White Paper must provide answers Scotland needs

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s launch of the Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said:

“We benefit from being part of one of the world’s strongest economies and Scotland exports more to the rest of the UK than it does to the rest of the world combined.

“Tens of billions of pounds and hundreds of thousands of jobs rely upon our shared market and the stable currency we share with our neighbours in the UK.

"Through the Scottish Parliament, we enjoy control over health, education and justice matters, and more powers are on the way which will give us more responsibility over tax.

“At the same time, being part of the UK means we benefit from a fully funded pensions system while being protected by one of the most professional fighting forces in the world.

“Alex Salmond and the SNP want the people of Scotland to swap all this for an independence prospectus that has so far failed to answer key questions on currency, pensions, welfare and defence and whether taxes would go up or spending cut to pay for separation.

“His deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, has raised the bar by claiming the answers to all these questions and more will be in the White Paper.

“If the SNP fail to do this, the document will be nothing more than an uncosted wish-list.

“Taking Scotland out of the UK and unpicking the bonds that make us part of one of the most successful economic, political and social unions in the world is not like flicking a switch.

“It would be a complicated and uncertain process and Alex Salmond cannot simply gloss over the detail and claim that everything will be ok just because he says so.

 “This is the biggest decision Scotland has faced in 300 years and at the very least, people should be armed with all the facts on what an independent Scotland would look like.

 “It doesn’t matter how many pages the White Paper has, it must contain hard facts so people can make an informed decision on September 18.

 “Anything less than this, and Alex Salmond and the SNP will have failed voters desperately looking for answers on how they and their families will be affected by the break-up of the UK.

 “Only by renewing our place in the UK in 2014 can Scotland thrive and not merely survive.”