Dear Orkney News.
Given that I have only had a brief read of newspaper reports on the Growth Commission findings I cannot make a detailed judgement. But there are a few points I would like to make.
The report is based on where we are now, so we should always be mindful that at the time of Independence (the sooner the better) the economic situation will almost certainly in a different position (Brexit, Brexit, always Brexit!).
On currency, I would hold with having an independent Scottish currency sooner than later. Utilising the new National Investment Bank to give Scottish savers the opportunity to invest in the future infrastructure and economy of Scotland. And given the current paucity of returns on savings, I am sure a good proportion of Scottish savers would be willing to invest in an Independent Scotland.
Finally trust. In the run up to the 2014 referendum at a get together in Kirkwall, I asked Alex Salmond if he trusted Westminster to adhere to the Edinburgh agreement. He assured me that Westminster would, but I was deeply sceptical (he may have been himself, but didn’t want to scare the horses). Given everything that has happened since I would caution an approach of being hopeful but plan for the opposite.
Yes then, yes now, yes always.
Jon Southerington, Orkney
Categories: Letters
Like many I’ve not fully absorbed Andrew’s document but I do know one thing that if you set a problem to 10 or 20 or 50 or 1,000 economists you’ll get 10 or 20 or 50 or 1,000 different solutions but it is an excellent start. That it has upset the extreme left in that I’m not surprised but while I want, like most Scots, a socially just society I do not want to copy the disaster that is unfolding in Venezuela.
A final thought, oh, how I wish that we had the same forward thinking and courage of the Irish to so firmly tell their Government, get rid of the 8th, enough is enough when we come to consider Independence again.
The Common Weal book on how to build an Independent country, lays out a template for setting up the new state. It is then up to the electorate to vote in a government which carries out their wishes on how it should be run, and the policies they prefer. From there on in we get the government we choose and deserve.