GREENS WELCOME INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND ECONOMIC CHOICES PAPER
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and co-convener of the Scottish Greens, is welcoming today’s publication (19 Nov) of the Scottish Government’s 200-page paper on economic policy choices in an independent Scotland.
It follows Friday’s launch of the Green Yes campaign, which highlighted the opportunity for Scotland to start closing the gap between rich and poor, make the most of the low-carbon economy and reverse the UK’s drift towards low-wage insecure employment.
Patrick said:
“I welcome the emphasis in this Scottish Government paper on the opportunity to pursue a different economic model, one that is sustainable and has the ability to tackle long-standing inequalities. While we’ll continue to challenge the SNP position on cutting taxes for aviation and big business - most businesses actually care more about decent infrastructure and a skilled workforce - it is encouraging that the party of government, which will have the responsibility to lead the post-Yes negotiations, is already thinking about ideas like an industrial strategy that supports the local supply chain, better designed public services and better childcare.
“Instead of seeing the obscene gap between the rich and the rest continue to grow, Scotland’s top priority should be to build a truly sustainable economy. This will be possible if voters make the right choices both in 2014 and in 2016.
"Since the financial crash Greens have warned against simply trying to get back to business-as-usual, and it’s vital that an independent Scotland avoids repeating the mistakes of successive governments in the UK. With the independence option on the table we have a real chance to transform and rebalance our economy.”