by Gordon MacDonald MSP for the constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands
For the last 38 years I have campaigned for Scottish independence the length and breadth of Scotland along with a steadily growing number of like-minded souls. We have given our time because we believe that Scotland should rejoin the family of nations and that the people best placed to make decisions about Scotland are the people who live here.
The Scotland we seek to rebuild is a country which uses its ample natural resources to encourage businesses and enterprise by nurturing the skills and talents of its citizens; that looks after its poorest citizens and doesn’t attack them through measures like the ‘Bedroom Tax’ while turning a blind eye to tax avoidance and evasion that costs the UK £260 million a day. We want a country that recognises the individual’s right to a home, free education, and gives people a route out of poverty; a country free of nuclear weapons, removing the nuclear stockpile based only 30 miles from our largest city and a country not prone to engaging in illegal wars.
Scotland is in a fortunate position, our GDP (national income) per head is £28,000 compared to the UK average of £24,000. Total tax income per head in Scotland is £10,700 compared to UK average of £9,000 reflecting that we contribute 9.9% of UK taxes with only 8.4% of the population but we only receive back 9.3% of public spending.
Our allocated share of UK spending includes £3.3 billion of the UK defence budget but only £1.9 billion is actually spent here and another £4.1 billion is our share of the UK’s national debt interest payments. If Scotland spent what it contributed in taxes to the UK Exchequer we would have an additional £4.4 billion per year to use on wealth creating projects, or to reduce the debt, or create an Oil Fund. We have the opportunity of building a more successful economy and fairer society with the powers of an independent Scotland.
In the autumn of 2014 the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to regain the powers that independent nations throughout the world take for granted: powers to create jobs, encourage sustainable economic growth, raise revenue, secure social justice, tackle inequality and promote fairness.
Since 1975, when I joined the SNP, the UK has become the 4th most unequal country in the world. In the mid 70’s the UK national debt stood at £46 billion today it is £1.2 trillion and rising with interest payments currently at £47 billion per annum.
Next year Scotland has the opportunity to create a new beginning and move away from the failed policies of the UK. So Vote YES not only for yourself but for your children, your grandchildren and the generations to come.
You can access full details about Gordon Macdonald MSP including his full contact details by clicking here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
