North-east SNP politicians express their backing for Indy-Referendum
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Gordon MP Richard Thomson has welcomed the publication of the first in a series of documents from the Scottish Government, which shows how Scotland in the UK compares to other similar-sized independent European nations on key comparators.
The paper outlines how other comparable nations are wealthier, happier and fairer than Scotland currently is under Westminster control.
Commenting after the paper’s publication on Monday, Richard Thomson MP said: “Scotland has everything it takes to be a hugely successful nation - yet Westminster control has held it back, while comparable countries of a similar size prosper.
“Independence gives Scotland the opportunity to fulfil its potential to be a fairer, greener and more equal nation.
"It puts the power into the hands of the people of Scotland - not Conservative governments that Scotland didn’t vote for.
“A decade of Conservative austerity, coupled with a Brexit that Scotland didn’t vote for, has had a huge negative impact. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens for people across the North-east, it’s right that the Scottish Government lays bare the cost of living with Westminster in this series of papers.
“Scotland has the ambition to be a better nation - but it’s only with the full powers of independence that we can make that ambition a reality.”
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam said: "I welcome the recent announcement from the First Minister on ‘Building a Better Scotland’ as the starting gun for the 2023 Scottish independence referendum.
"Many will be rightly asking whether now is the right time – and the answer to that is – absolutely Yes.
"We know now that the risks of staying in the UK far outweigh any risk of Scotland becoming a wealthier, happier, fairer independent nation.
"Tying ourselves to a UK that has caused harm on its citizens through the self-inflicted cost of living crisis would be reckless, and it's now up to unionist parties to justify how remaining in the union is in any way beneficial to people living in Scotland.
“From exiting the EU against our will, the cost of living crisis, experiencing the lowest growth in the G20 with the only exception being Russia, and the national staffing crisis.
"At every turn the union is at the heart of every single one of these problems.
"All the while the Scottish Government are forced to spend hundreds of millions of pounds mitigating the worst of these UK inflicted policies.
“Mid-sized nations across Europe prove time and time again that they prosper with higher growth and lower inequality.
"So we must reflect on why neighbouring countries outperform the UK at every turn, even when we in Scotland have more resources and natural assets that our neighbours are simply unable to match.
“The question for those who are unsure on independence is, why not Scotland?
" If Denmark can do it, why not Scotland?
"If Ireland can do it, why not Scotland?
"Even for those who fundamentally disagree with me on independence it’s still undeniable that Scotland can and will thrive as an independent nation, and any decision on our future should be taken by the people living here.
“As an MSP, I will continue to discuss this topic with civility and respect, and work as though we live in the early days of a better nation.”
Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said: “Independence gives Scotland the opportunity to fulfil its full potential to be a fairer, greener and more equal nation.
"It puts the power into the hands of Scotland - not Tory governments that Scotland didn’t vote for.
As the cost of living crisis deepens for people across Aberdeenshire, it’s right that the Scottish government lays bare the cost of living with Westminster in this series of papers."
