Latest News & Articles
UK Government gives Scottish exporters a new Brexit hammering
New border checks and packaging rules for trading with the EU loom – this means Scotland’s exports to the trading bloc are likely to fall. That will be bad news for the Scottish economy.
Would an independent Scotland have to use the Euro?
The topic of whether Scotland would adopt the Euro as its currency if it became independent has been hotly debated. Unfortunately, much of the discussion on this issue relates to EU rules that are widely misunderstood. We will explain further below.
Would an independent Scotland join the EU?
One of the key Better Together claims that led many people to vote ‘No’ in 2014 was that an independent Scotland would lose its EU membership. Now after Brexit, rejoining the EU has become the key reason given by voters that have switched from No to Yes on independence.
Is it true that Scotland’s economy is dependent on oil?
The breadth of economic activity undertaken by a nation’s economy is important, so let’s take a look at the diversity of Scotland’s economic output and examine how that compares to other countries.
Who are Believe in Scotland Youth?
Young people are the future of Scotland. It is they who have the most to gain from independence and the endless opportunities it entails. It is, however, the demographic of the young that are the least connected to the Yes movement. Despite often showing the highest support for independence of any age group – with the latest poll showing a 72% support for Yes among 16-25 year olds – they are continuously poorly represented across the movement. This is a problem not just for the Yes movement but across the entirety of Scottish politics. Young people feel disenfranchised and disconnected from politics and politicians. So, how do we create a change?
Football anomaly a sign of Scotland’s low status in UK broadcasting
Scotland is the only GB country where national games are not free to view
Scotland’s match against Norway at home was free to view in Norway but not Scotland. But England’s Euro qualifiers were free to view. So were Wales’ games. Scottish fans alone of the GB countries had to shell out for an expensive Viaplay subscription – or go to the pub. That situation excludes youngsters. It creates difficult choices for families in a cost of living crisis.
This scenario is just one detail of a bigger picture. When it comes to broadcasting, Scotland has to make do with the crumbs from England’s table. Most of the TV, radio, newspapers and digital content Scots can access are operated and managed outside Scotland.
Meanwhile, similar-sized independent countries in Scandinavia have broadcasting sectors many times the size of Scotland’s.
What would leaving the UK do to Scotland’s international exports?
Would Scotland see the same or better success with its exporting of goods if it were not part of the UK? Believe in Scotland believes that being part of the UK may have had less to do with Scotland’s export success than you might think. We say the real question is whether our continued membership of the UK puts us at risk.
What currency would be used in an independent Scotland?
An independent Scotland should have its own currency – it's just a matter of when is the optimum time to launch it. Therefore, a clear plan on how an independent Scotland will set up its currency will be a very important component of the independence campaign ongoing. This article will outline what the Scottish Government has proposed for the adoption of an independent currency and how that will work in practice.
How easily could an independent Scotland set up its own currency?
This article will consider the experiences of other independent nations which developed their own currency after independence. We hope this will answer the questions on the minds of many undecided voters: namely how difficult/easy would it be for Scotland to create its own currency and whether this would cause economic instability.
We will present some mini case studies to highlight the positives of adopting a new currency, with examples of recently independent countries who have created and launched their own currency both quickly and effectively.
IndyFAQs: How easily could an independent Scotland set up its own currency?
This article will consider the experiences of other independent nations which developed their own currency after independence. We hope this will answer the questions on the minds of many undecided voters: namely how difficult/easy would it be for Scotland to create its own currency and whether this would cause economic instability.
We will present some mini case studies to highlight the positives of adopting a new currency, with examples of recently independent countries who have created and launched their own currency both quickly and effectively.
Independence Campaign Crowdfunder smashes target and gets extra boost
Eleven days ahead of schedule, the Believe in Scotland Independence Campaign Crowdfunder has smashed through its target of £60,000. The Crowdfunder was launched on the 1st of November and will run until St Andrew’s Day (30th November), hitting its target on Sunday morning.
Latest Westminster disasterclass this week shows why Scotland needs independence
What a week in Westminster! The crises have come thick and fast – from foreign policy, to immigration, to civil liberties in the UK.
In all of these issues, Holyrood is powerless. Scots have to sit and watch from the sidelines knowing that, despite the fact that almost all of its elected MPs support independence, Scotland remains trapped in a failing UK. Here are three reasons why this week shows Scotland’s urgent need for independence.
Sunak's threat to take the UK out of the ECHR shows contempt for devolution
Rishi Sunak declared yesterday that “a foreign court” cannot be used to defend human rights in the UK. Responding to a court defeat of his plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, Sunak indicated he will withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights in order to get this plan through. But does he know or care what the implications are for the Union with Scotland?
Would I still have free access to the Scottish NHS after independence?
Free access to a Scottish National Health Service would be a priority for many if Scotland were to become independent. Events in recent years have shown that remaining part of the Union is no guarantee of free access to the NHS.
The Truth:
Independence may be the only way to guarantee access to a free, reliable public health service in Scotland.
Could Scotland's natural wealth help it prosper as an independent nation?
Many people are unsure about Scotland’s natural wealth, asking whether it could actually support the economy of an independent Scotland. We say that the real focus should be on how Scotland’s natural wealth can be used to help us transition to a more sustainable way of living. Here is a breakdown of Scotland’s natural wealth:
The Truth:
The value of Scotland’s natural environment to the economy is huge and lays the foundation for Scotland’s continued prosperity as well as a sustainable economy that respects the planet and future generations.