Latest News & Articles
How Scotland's foreign policy could help shape the world
Establishing its own foreign policy will be one of the most important tasks facing an independent Scotland after a Yes vote. Discussions are already taking place on what that foreign policy would look like.Now Scotland’s foreign policy footprint will be debated later this month at the Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought, a socially distanced event at Traquair...
BiS survey confirms widespread food shortages
Almost 90% of those who responded to a recent Believe in Scotland survey have noticed more empty shelves in shops and supermarkets.A total of 89.3% had noticed shortages, compared to 6% who had noticed no difference and 4.7% who were unsure.When asked about the shortage of lorry drivers, 93.3% thought that Brexit was most to blame for the situation. Just...
Scotland celebrates role as marine power pioneer
SCOTLAND’S reputation as a pioneer in the development of marine power was given a boost today as a tidal-powered turbine hailed as the most powerful in the world started to generate electricity.It's yet another example of how Scotland’s abundant green energy resources give it the potential to prosper as an independent country.Here are five things you need to know about...
UK Government abandons the vulnerable and fails to set up pandemic recovery
For over a year now, countries across the world have faced the greatest health crisis in living memory. As a result, governments worldwide have introduced a number of extraordinary measures, including business closures, social distancing, and travel bans. However, alongside these public health interventions, has come increased social support. Therefore, this article sets out to analyse the type of support...
Scotland challenges inequality, while UK falls behind
Deprivation is a useful measure to identify areas of the country that are experiencing significant disadvantage. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) uses statistics on income, employment, health, education, access to services, crime and housing to calculate the level of deprivation across all regions of Scotland. Last year, levels of deprivation fell in Glasgow City, Renfrewshire and City of...
Three new voices add to support for indyref2
The backlash against Boris Johnson's refusal to recognise the support for a second independence referendum is growing. Even those who do not support independence are increasingly speaking out against any Tory bid to block the vote. Here are three voices who recently added their support to the arguments in favour of holding indyref2.1: Michael Sharpe, former Labour Party general secretaryMichael...
Lessons for Scotland in how newly independent countries boosted pensions
New analysis shows that UK state pensions are the least generous in North West Europe in comparison to the average wage. The analysis from the House of Commons library shows pensions in the UK are the lowest of our European neighbours as a proportion of pre-retirement wages.UK pensioners receive around a quarter of the average working wage. In comparison pensioners...
Xenophobic, inhumane UK is a foreign country
Thousands of people who considered Scotland their home have been left fearing they have lost the right to stay here and that their lives are being torn apart. This morning they are waking up in a country they no longer recognise.The UK government’s decision to force EU nationals to apply to remain in their homes is not just cruel and...
What's behind Westminster court bid to block Holyrood child rights law?
Westminster’s bid to persuade the Supreme Court to stop the Scottish parliament improving children’s rights is entering its second day.It is a naked attempt to thwart legislation passed unanimously by MSPs in Holyrood. At its heart is a determination to limit the powers of the Scottish parliament and protect what the Conservative government views as the superiority of Westminster.If it...
Exclusive: research shows Scotland would have benefitted more from independence than devolution
Since 1990, 34 territories have become independent countries. Many of these new countries were formed as a result of the dissolution of the USSR and Yugoslavia during the 1990s. Others formed as a result of independence and anticolonial movements.The 1990s was also a significant period for Scotland, with the reconvening of the Scottish parliament and the transfer of devolved powers....
How small independent countries create a better, more equal society
In some of our previous articles and on our recent Believe in Scotland campaign billboards we have highlighted some of the inadequacies that exist within the UK’s social support system. In particular, one of our billboards drew attention to the fact that the UK offers the worst state pension in the developed world. In this article, we will consider the...
From football to renewables: five ways Scotland is a world pioneer
FOOTBALLA Scottish student became the first black football player to play at an international level 140 years ago.Andrew Watson played three matches for Scotland between 1881 and 1882. He was the son of a rich Scottish sugar planter, Peter Miller Watson, and studied natural philosophy, mathematics and engineering at the University of Glasgow.He first played football for Maxwell in 1876...
How smarter taxation would help build a fairer Scotland
The SNP’s Social Justice and Fairness Commission recently published a report that sets out a road map to a fairer Scotland. At Business for Scotland, we have for several years supported many of the policies that have been proposed in this report.Indeed, we are particularly happy to see that some of the concepts concerning fairer taxation that we have for...
Pro-UK think tank supports myth that London taxes are 'redistributed' to Scotland
A think tank pushing for a campaign to 'revive faith' in Britain to undermine support for Scottish independence has supported the myth that Scotland benefits from 'redistributed' London taxes.As you might be able to tell, the report by the Council on Geostrategy has a strange take on the tactics it believes are needed to win support from young Scots who...
Investment surge demolishes myth that indy Scotland would be too poor to thrive
Independence opponents’ attempts to portray Scotland as too poor to stand on its own feet have been demolished by a new report showing the country bucked the UK downward trend and attracted more foreign direct investment last year.The 2020 investments were made while renewed arguments in favour of independence were gaining increasing support.An annual survey by professional services company EY...