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Scottish independence: Scotland 'held back by UK governments' Scottish referendum: Alex Salmond says Scotland can afford independence
(35 minutes later)
Scotland has been held back by past and present UK governments, Holyrood's SNP administration has claimed. Scotland can "more than afford' to be a successful independent country, its first minister has said.
In a paper, to be published later, it cites six areas where Westminster has pursued policies said not to have been in the best interests of Scotland. Alex Salmond was speaking as he launched a paper outlining the nation's key economic strengths.
The arguments are being outlined the day after Treasury analysis suggested independence would cost savers and borrowers north of the border. He said the document offered a consolidated picture of the country's strong financial foundations, diverse economy, ingenuity and natural resources.
Scotland's electorate is being asked to vote yes or no to independence. Scotland's electorate will vote in a referendum on independence next year.
On Thursday, 18 September, 2014, they will answer the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Both the Scottish and UK governments have been publishing documents that illustrate their cases ahead of the vote, which will be held on 18 September, 2014.
In the build up to the vote, both the Scottish and UK governments have been publishing documents that illustrate their cases. The latest Scottish government paper, entitled Scotland's Economy: the case for independence, was launched by Mr Salmond and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Alexander Dennis bus manufacturing plant in Falkirk.
This week, the two sides are focusing on the economy and financial sectors such as banking. It said that rising inequality under Westminster and consistent economic mismanagement by successive UK governments was costing jobs and depressing growth.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said a Treasury paper, titled Scotland analysis: Financial services and banking, highlighted a number of questions that needed to be answered by the Scottish government. The paper focused on Scotland's potential for growth as an independent nation, where the Scottish government would have key economic decision-making powers.
He believed it was up to ministers at Holyrood to say what would happen to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), mortgage products, pension funds and car insurance. Mr Salmond said Scotland had generated more tax per head than the rest of the UK for every one of the past 30 years.
Previewing the launch of a Scottish government paper, titled Scotland's Economy: the case for independence, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Westminster system of government "is hindering Scotland's potential". He also highlighted Scotland's strength in industries other than oil and banking, which have been the focus of much of the debate ahead of the referendum.
She highlighted six areas including; Mr Salmond said they included;
Ms Sturgeon said: "The evidence is clear. The UK government's economic policies have been holding Scotland back for generations. The first minister said: "This document sets out the enormous attributes and key strengths of the Scottish economy across a diverse range of sectors. We have a vast array of human, financial and natural resources, which many other countries do not enjoy.
"Only with the powers of independence can Scotland meet its full potential. "Scotland has a strong onshore economy and vast offshore potential, as well as a highly educated workforce and world class technology and research.
"We already know - and the report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group has confirmed - that by international standards Scotland is a wealthy and productive country, and has the potential to be an economically successful independent nation." "But despite all of these inherent economic strengths, Scotland's long-term economic growth has lagged behind that of comparable European nations, many of which do not have the natural advantages we do.
'Economic mismanagement' "The explanation for that rests in the fact that Scotland's economic strength is not yet in Scotland's hands."
She goes on to say that Scotland has a wealth of resources in the areas of life sciences, creative industries, ICT, oil and gas, renewable energy, food and drink, manufacturing, financial services and tourism. Mr Salmond said the powers that come with being an independent country were needed to boost Scotland's competitive position, support greater innovation and investment, become more internationally-focused instead of threatening to leave the EU and to become a wealthier, fairer country.
Ms Sturgeon believes that with the full powers of independence the Scottish government "would have the powers to do much more". He said the Westminster system of government was holding Scotland back in six areas, including:
She added: "The paper the Scottish government will publish today sets out in clear, concise detail the fundamental economic strengths of Scotland across a range of diverse sectors.
"Scotland can more than afford to be a successful independent country - the question everyone must ask themselves is whether we can afford not to be independent given the scale of economic mismanagement by Westminster."
Speaking ahead of the launch, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Scotland would have been £8bn better off over the past five years if it had full control over its taxation and spending.
He also said that Scotland has contributed more in taxation per head of population than the UK average in each of the past 30 years.
However, the head of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, said the SNP paper was "long on grievances about the past, but it is very short on Scotland's future".However, the head of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, said the SNP paper was "long on grievances about the past, but it is very short on Scotland's future".
He added: "What was billed as an economic framework for independence has turned out to be a list of objections with barely any mention about how leaving the UK would have any impact on them.He added: "What was billed as an economic framework for independence has turned out to be a list of objections with barely any mention about how leaving the UK would have any impact on them.
"In the absence of having any answers to difficult questions, the nationalists have reverted to negative type. It is all Westminster's fault."In the absence of having any answers to difficult questions, the nationalists have reverted to negative type. It is all Westminster's fault.
"What is most striking is that even the nationalists don't seem to know why they want independence. Their high point is air passenger duty. Is that worth breaking a 300 year old union with our biggest and most important trading partner?"What is most striking is that even the nationalists don't seem to know why they want independence. Their high point is air passenger duty. Is that worth breaking a 300 year old union with our biggest and most important trading partner?
"They must know that in a currency union, it is highly unlikely that Scotland would be able to undercut the rest of the UK.""They must know that in a currency union, it is highly unlikely that Scotland would be able to undercut the rest of the UK."