INDEPENDENCE IS NORMAL
Scotland is a country, and like any other country it deserves to get the governments it votes for. We are one of the world’s wealthiest nations – richer per head than France, Japan and New Zealand.
We have a diverse, modern economy with huge energy resources, a world-class food and drink industry, a booming tourism sector, advanced manufacturing, financial and business services and we are at the cutting-edge of the industries of the future such as life sciences.
But our future is not in our hands. It is in the hands of Tory governments we don’t vote for, and a broken Westminster Parliament, where Scotland’s voice is increasingly ignored and sidelined.
The Tories haven’t won a general election in Scotland since 1955, and yet time and again, Tory governments are imposed on Scotland. These Conservative governments have pursued policies rejected by the people of Scotland which have damaged our country.
But this time it’s really serious.
Their extreme Brexit policy and right-wing agenda is making us all poorer, increasing child poverty and stripping people in Scotland of hard-won rights, such as the right to live, work and study in 27 European countries. Scotland is being dragged into a future we didn’t choose.
Brexit, billions of pounds wasted on nuclear weapons, austerity and a heartless agenda of welfare cuts are all consequences of not being independent.
Independence is about taking charge of our future, where power rests in the hands of the people of Scotland – those who were born here, those who grew up here, and those who just made our country their home, no matter where they come from.
It will mean a true partnership of equals with our closest friends in the rest of the UK and across Europe.
Devolution has brought many benefits to Scotland and allowed us to take different policy decisions to Westminster on issues like health, housing and education.
But Westminster has already used Brexit to launch a power grab on the Scottish Parliament and won’t hesitate to do so again.
By making all our own decisions here in Scotland, we could use our country’s wealth and resources to end poverty faster, play our full part in tackling the climate emergency, ensure a fair deal for pensioners and create new opportunities for jobs and our economy.
As an independent country, we would have a seat in the international institutions such as the EU and the UN, with Scotland playing its full part in shaping the world and making our voices heard.
Scotland is rich in human talent and natural resources – and like many independent European nations similar to Scotland’s size, we could build a fairer society while growing our economy.
With independence, we will always get the governments we vote for, we won’t have to waste money on Westminster priorities such as Brexit and Trident and we can have an economic and social policies fully tailored to Scotland’s own circumstances.
There is a clear mandate for an independence referendum – our opportunity to put Scotland’s future into Scotland’s hands, so that we can build the better country that we know is possible.
It’s time to make your voice heard.
Play your part in the movement and find out more about how to get involved.
