We already have our own Parliament in Scotland - why do we need Independence?
The Scottish Parliament has made Scotland more democratic but, until
Independence, it will be severely restricted in its powers.
Westminster retains control over:
It is Westminster which collects Scottish taxpayers’ money and then recycles some of it back to the Scottish Parliament to be spent on services in Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament has less power than practically any other legislative Parliament in Europe – devolved or independent – to decide how it raises its own income. Scotland has less control over its own affairs than Flanders, the Basque Country, or even the Isle of Man. In Scotland, Westminster still effectively decides what the Scottish Parliament’s budget will be for Scotland’s vital public services. Even a local authority like Edinburgh City Council is responsible for raising 27% of the revenue which it spends, but the Scottish Parliament has no such power. That means it operates with one hand effectively tied behind its back.
We already have the Parliament – now we need to complete its powers.
Only with more powers for the Parliament, and ultimately Independence, will the Scottish Parliament be able to take all these powers from Westminster and govern for the good of the people whom it is elected to represent.
Westminster retains control over:
- almost the whole of the taxation system
Westminster still decides what you pay in income tax and VAT, and still receives the taxes paid by businesses in Scotland, including revenues from North Sea oil. Even using all the tax powers available to it, the Scottish Parliament only controls 5% of the taxes raised in Scotland. Independence will allow Scotland to introduce a fair taxation system, and give the Scottish Parliament the financial powers to help grow the Scottish economy. - the Scottish Parliament’s income
It’s Westminster, not Scotland, which decides the overall budget that the Scottish Parliament gets to spend on services like health and education - social security and pensions
The Scottish Parliament has no power to alter welfare benefits or introduce a Citizen’s Pension - Scotland’s relations with the EU and the rest of the world
Scotland’s government has no voice in the world, and no place at Europe’s top table - Defence
The Scottish Parliament has no say on defence issues, such as whether Scottish troops are sent to war, the future of Scottish regiments, or over the fact that we are used as a base for nuclear weapons - Broadcasting
Scottish broadcasting – including even Gaelic broadcasting – is still regulated in Whitehall, not Edinburgh
It is Westminster which collects Scottish taxpayers’ money and then recycles some of it back to the Scottish Parliament to be spent on services in Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament has less power than practically any other legislative Parliament in Europe – devolved or independent – to decide how it raises its own income. Scotland has less control over its own affairs than Flanders, the Basque Country, or even the Isle of Man. In Scotland, Westminster still effectively decides what the Scottish Parliament’s budget will be for Scotland’s vital public services. Even a local authority like Edinburgh City Council is responsible for raising 27% of the revenue which it spends, but the Scottish Parliament has no such power. That means it operates with one hand effectively tied behind its back.
We already have the Parliament – now we need to complete its powers.
Only with more powers for the Parliament, and ultimately Independence, will the Scottish Parliament be able to take all these powers from Westminster and govern for the good of the people whom it is elected to represent.
