stewartb

With reference to the graph above, what happened to Scotland’s FDI performance pre-2015, in the years of uncertainty over what Scotland’s people would opt for in a late 2014 referendum. Would they choose that most awful of outcomes, independence? Surely that would have given foreign investors cause to pause – no longer in a UK, out of the EU – fears a plenty?

So what happened? From Business Insider (May 27, 2015): ‘Survey: Slight fall in inward investment to Scotland in 2014 – Latest attractiveness survey from accountants EY suggests Scotland attracted 80 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects last year, down from 82 in 2013 and was second only to London in attracting inward investment.’

Source: https://www.insider.co.uk/news/survey-slight-fall-inward-investment-9892649

The article reports: ‘Inward investment to Scotland dipped slightly last year against the 16-year high recorded in 2013, new figures from accountants EY suggest.’

You will note that the last bit about 2013 being a 16-year high is missing from the headline. It had to be to max out on the negative framing presumably!

From the same article: ‘Commenting on the latest attractiveness survey, EY partner Mark Harvey said: “In an uncertain world, Scotland is punching above its weight in securing global FDI but challenges remain”. And for context: “The world economy continues to struggle for growth and FDI values globally fell in 2014.”

So in a struggling, uncertain world economy, Scotland was punching above its weight amidst its own constitutional uncertainty, with one possible outcome being portrayed by the UK government and mainstream media as bringing economic disaster to Scotland and one opposed (apparently) by several influential leaders internationally? Go figure!