Leah Gunn Barrett This letter was published in The National on December 21st and explains why Scotland, a naturally wealthy nation, suffers from high levels of endemic poverty. The cure is simple – we must end our colonial status and restore our sovereignty. There’s been a chorus of criticism of the Scottish government over its recent budget from unionist politicians and media. But why should anyone be surprised over Scotland’s dismal state? The reason is our status as a de facto English colony. As a colony, we don’t own our own resources so we can’t provide heat and power for the costs of production which is what nationalized energy companies do. Instead, our resources are owned by private corporations that cream off profits for shareholders. We can’t create our own key industries for transport or control our ports because they are owned by foreign governments and hedge funds. We can’t export our surplus energy for normal commercial prices or control our national grid because both are in the hands of Westminster. We lack a central bank to create needed investment and must rely on a foreign bank that doesn’t prioritise Scotland’s interests. We receive back less than half our tax revenues from England yet are expected to be grateful for our “colonial pittance”. We can’t hold public votes on national decisions that affect every Scot because we’re outnumbered 10 to 1 in Westminster and Holyrood, a creature of Westminster, has limited powers that can be curtailed and withdrawn any time London wishes. We don’t have a Scottish-owned media, but one controlled by international conglomerates and the BBC that bombards us daily with propaganda. We can’t devise our own foreign policy to enable international diplomacy and trade, nor can we decide whether we want weapons of mass destruction on our soil. And we can’t end endemic poverty and guarantee everyone a dignified living wage, paid for from the profits of our nationalized energy resources, while we are trapped in the failing UK. The sovereign Scottish People can and must end this union. |
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
WE REALLY MUST DRAG SCOTS OUT OF THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL UNION
IF ANYONE IN SCOTLAND THINKS DIFFERENTLY
DUE TO “LOYALTY”
THEY ARE FOOLING THEIER CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES
A UNION WHO CENTRES ON ITS MAIN CITY 450 miles away
IS LIVING A FOOLS IDEOLOGY.
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To paraphrase a former US president , ” It’s Independence , stupid ! ”
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Just a thought.
If the people of Scotland want Independence how can they ever vote for a Unionist Party can they not see if they want Scotland to flourish and prosper we must rid ourselves of all Unionist MPs and MSPs as all they will ever do is run Scotland down.
Come 2024 vote SNP for Scotland.
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I agree, it’s a simple SNP vote for a UK MP in the ancient FPTP system there.
Holyrood however takes a different tactic, an SNP 1 Green 2 vote in the PR system there would reduce the Unionist MSPs to a wee rump, probably more than they deserve.
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Or just vote SNP 1&2!!!
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Scotland raising £87Billion+ in revenues. Spending £54Billion. Half the so called income/debt spent by Westminster Gov. Half of Scotland’s income £50Billion+ spent on Westminster wasteful policies. Illegally accruing so called debt to Scotland £106Billion. Not spent in Scotland by the Scottish Gov but Westminster Gov. Not majority voted for in Scotland. No taxation without representation.
Westminster wasting £Billions on illegal wars, Trident, HS2, Hinkley Point, nuclear putting the debts £Billions on to Scottish Gov balance sheet. Not voted for in Scotland.
UK Gov raises £731Billion. Spends £1090Billion. Then gives the debt balance to Scotland. On the Scottish balance sheet. Not borrowed or spent in Scotland but elsewhere in the UK. Scotland gets the illegal debt. Not voted for in Scotland but in Westminster parliament. Scotland out voted 10 to 1. The illegal Barnett Formula.
Scotland does not have enough to fund what it needs. Spending on Westmibster policies. Policies Scotland are not in favour. Wasteful policies and projects.
Total mismanagement of the Scottish revenues and budget by Westminster. Trying to hide the facts under the Official Secrets Act. Before Devolution 2000. Thatcher etc. Fraudulent accountancy.
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FPTP would reduce the unionist candidates in Scotland even more. Giving SNP even bigger massive majority. Without Green interference.
PR. A quota. 1st preference votes (SNP) go in the bin to let3rd rate unionist candidates in with fewer votes. Once the (illegal) quota is reached. List miscalculation designed to limit SNP vote. To let unionists in. On non representative list.
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May 2024 UK election? Not long now. To survive. Vote for Independence candidates in a big majority. Independence supporters get out and vote. Not for unionists.
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Just vote SNP to make a strong impact to oust all Unionist parties!!!
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The culture of dependency fostered by Westminster in Scotland is designed to discourage Scots from thinking outside the box they have been put in.
Hence the cringe factor and people who think that Westminster political parties will actually improve life for those living in Scotland.
Dream on.
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