Latest Articles & News
Westminster Effect means Scots experience more fuel poverty than any EU nation.
In a week of freezing temperatures, Scottish households are counting the energy cost of the Union. In energy-rich Scotland, fuel poverty rates are higher than any EU country and more than double that of England.
New Poll Result: Wellbeing Economy points to 66% SUPERMAJORITY for Scottish Independence
By Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp
Make no mistake, this is a breakthrough result for Scottish independence. It demonstrates that, with the right message, there is a path to a 66% supermajority for Scottish independence. Two thirds of Scottish voters would support independence if independence were predicated on a Wellbeing Economic Approach with The Wellbeing Pension. More than that, the poll found that of the groups that are least likely to support independence, all of them moved to majority support in answer to this poll question. Meaning a Yes majority amongst demographics known for showing lower support for independence; Females aged over 55, Labour voters and English born voters, is possible if we make the right case for independence.
Scotland’s Waspi Women pay the price of the Union
Scottish pensioners already face one of the lowest state pensions in the developed world. But the group of Waspi women have suffered pension injustice that means they were short-changed on even that.
If Scotland were an independent country it could model its pension provision on a country like Denmark and offer a Wellbeing Pension, set at the level required to sustain a life of dignity, where every older person can afford the basic necessities of life.
NEW POLL RESULT - Would offering an independent Scottish republic increase independence support?
By Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp
In response the recent Scottish budget, The Times commissioned a poll from Norstat (formerly Panelbase) on Scottish independence and found a significant six percent jump to 54% ‘Yes’ when asked the question ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’
Believe in Scotland have always used Norstat as our polling provider and we had a poll of our own going at the same time with the same panel of respondents. However, we asked questions around specific messages and policy areas so we could test how they impact on base independence support.
One of the questions we wanted an answer to is would offering an Independent Scottish Republic increase independence support?
Scots should spik up for oor mither tongues
Scotland has always been a multilingual country - although two major home-grown languages, Gaelic and Scots, have been marginalised for centuries. Schoolchildren were told not to use the languages they spoke at home in the classroom, and they were sometimes beaten for doing so. Both children and adults were shamed for using oor mither tongues.
Poverty in families with children now lower in Scotland than England, new study shows
An authoritative new report has found that poverty among families with children is lower in Scotland than it is in England. The study by the Social Metrics Commission (SMC) released this month found that 26% of couples with children are in poverty in England, while in Scotland the figure is 23%. In England, more than half of lone parents, 54%, are in poverty whereas in Scotland it is 48%.
Believe in Scotland welcomes Scottish Government mitigation of Labour's heartless Winter Fuel Payment cut.
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp the founder of the Believe in Scotland campaign and Wellbeing Pension Campaign has welcomed what he called “A victory for pensioner wellbeing and common sense”.
The UK Government's cut to the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) is the single largest attack on pensioner wellbeing in living memory.
Believe in Scotland launch hard hitting new billboard campaign
Following Believe in Scotland’s highly successful Crowdfunder which raised £100,000 we have launched a new billboard campaign that aims to generate 250,000 views. The campaign will also be matched with an online and social media campaign aiming for a similar reach over the next two weeks.
Gulf opening up in water bills between England and Scotland.
Water bills in England look set to rise - by more than 50% in some areas - as debt-laden private water firms struggle to avoid bankruptcy. England is the only country in the developed world to have fully privatised its water. Scotland did not go down that road and as a result, Scottish waterways are much cleaner than in England and water bills are lower.
Smash and grab budget takes Scotland's resources without giving back
The UK Chancellor has delivered a devastating budget that will do little to boost Scotland’s economy. She pushed up the tax take on the oil and gas sector to new heights. This will threaten both future investment and the thousands of jobs that depend on oil in Scotland. But, despite all the talk of a ‘just transition’, Scotland has missed out yet again on funding for carbon capture and there was no mention of Grangemouth, Scotland’s only oil refinery which is set to close next year.