John Swinney paints a picture of prosperity with Scottish independence
An independent Scotland would be the sixth wealthiest country in the world, Finance Secretary John Swinney has claimed.
John Swinney addressing the conference in Inverness.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 24.10.11
- Published online : 24.10.11 @ 12.39pm
In his closing speech to the SNP conference in Inverness on Sunday, the Perthshire North MSP insisted Scotland was ''subsidising the rest of the UK.''
He also launched an attack on successive Westminster Governments, saying the previous Labour administration had presided over ''chaos and crisis'' while the current coalition is using ''financial blackmail'' over public sector pensions.
He added: ''Independence will give the Scottish Parliament the normal powers enjoyed in nations across the world to deliver jobs and growth — responsibility for our own affairs, rather than the dead hand of Westminster control.
''And, of course, the forces of negativity will tell us that Scotland can't stand on her own two feet. Well, let me give them a taste of what we are going to say about all this.
''As the global economy recovers from recession, all countries run a deficit, but the UK deficit is higher than that in Scotland.
''In four out of the last five years Scotland has run a budget surplus. The UK was in deficit in each of these years.
''Scotland is subsidising the rest of the UK. Our country pays her way.''
He accused the UK of ''squandering'' North Sea oil revenues and said it would not have happened under independence.
''The figures show that, with a geographical share of our offshore resources, Scotland would be the sixth wealthiest country in the world, 10 places ahead of the UK at 16th,'' he said.
''This is the time to put the wealth of Scotland to work for the people of Scotland.''
Mr Swinney repeated calls for a ''Plan MacB'' — the SNP's approach to the economy.
And, reflecting the four-day conference's large focus on independence, his final remarks were devoted to the coming referendum.
''This is it my friends,'' he said. ''This is our moment. This is our chance to fulfil the promise we made to our people, the promise that every person who chooses to live in this country should have the chance to shape the future of the country.
''Our task is now quite simple. We must go out and persuade and inspire the people of our country that independence will be right for them.
''That is our task. Today let us commit to fulfil our promise to the people of Scotland.''
(Photo Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
01.22pm - 24.10.2011 Cory Douglas Campbell - Maryfield, Scotland Report This
Come on John...Put your money where your mouth is and call a referendum NOW! Let's vote next May during the local elections. What is gods name is the SNP waiting for? This is starting to look like another case of Gordon Brownism...arrogance+delay= defeat! Look to the Arab spring for fast results.
01.39pm - 24.10.2011 L.Y. - Perth, Scotland Report This
In or out of Europe? Keeping or dumping Sterling? In Europe and the Germans and French would want MORE money, not less. Out of the UK, Swinney would have no input into economic decision making. At the end of the day, it is all gloss and bluster, and the SNP's separatist vision is a mess.
01.50pm - 24.10.2011 Phil - Hamilton, Scotland Report This
It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Surely to God the truth has to play SOME part in a political speech, even for the SNP.
02.05pm - 24.10.2011 Frankly - Paris, France Report This
Within the UK state Scotland subsidizes Blighty: http://tinyurl.com/3vsor7j Only with full control of its economy as an independent state could it realize its full potential. As for the old chestnut of bank bail-outs, that is dealt with here: http://tinyurl.com/5wj7uga
02.24pm - 24.10.2011 ATE - Dundee, UK Report This
Errrr....and what would have happened if the Scots alone had been forced to bail out the Royal Bank of Scotland? We would have been bankrupt like Iceland! Does anyone really believe that a small country with diminishing natural resources would be the 6th wealthiest in the world? I don't!
03.32pm - 24.10.2011 Andew Gonsalves - Edinburgh, Scotland Report This
That speech is African dictators speech. African leaders rely on natural resource to run their countries. Result? do not ask me. What is sure, you cannot rely on natural resources to run a country and forecast the growth and wealth of your people. So this man is living in 17th century or what?
03.43pm - 24.10.2011 FM - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The "too wee, too weak, too poor arguments" used by some unionists and evident in some of the posts above are a busted flush. I'm fed up of this utter negativity and being told that we cannae do it. Clearly Scotland can flourish as an equal, independent nation. Lets do it!
03.46pm - 24.10.2011 Ken - The Ferry, Dundee, Scotland, UK Report This
@ ATE The SNP answer to that is simple - it wouldn't have been allowed to happen, an odd logic, because it did. When successful, RBS and BoS were SCOTTISH. When they went down the tubes, they became BRITISH. All these facts will come out.
04.22pm - 24.10.2011 Frankly - Paris, France Report This
Scotland would not have been required to bail out trans-national banks on its own. That is not how things are done. Consider the recent tri-state rescue of of Dexia. This point and others concerning the constitutional question and related matters are addressed here: http://tinyurl.com/6aapbrm
05.08pm - 24.10.2011 Jofradski - Chester, UK Report This
Wow, I'm retired and living in England but I'm moving north of the border asap.
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