Michelle joins Business for Scotland EK team

Yes East Kilbride is pleased to announce that Michelle Rodger, journalist and entrepreneur, is joining the team presenting the Business Case for Yes in East Kilbride.

Michelle will join Ivan McKee in presenting the benefits of independence for Scottish business.

The meeting takes place at 7pm on Tuesday, 27th May in The Bruce Hotel, Cornwall Street, East Kilbride.

Yes East Kilbride is aiming this event at the town's business community. All are welcome, whatever their position on the independence referendum, and Yes East Kilbride is particularly keen to hear the concerns of undecided voters.

Scotland has got what it takes

The following post is based on the article 10 key economic facts that prove Scotland will be a wealthy independent nation. You can read the full article here.

All the evidence demonstrates that Scotland is a wealthy nation. Scotland would be the 14th wealthiest nation in the developed world by GDP per head of population. Scotland’s wealth is also built on solid financial foundations, a diverse economy and substantial economic potential in new industries such as biotechnology and renewables, as well as current key sectors like food and drink, tourism and oil and gas

Voting for independence – to have control over taxation, regulation and global promotion – will give the Scottish government the tools to create greater opportunities for growth and a better business climate for Scottish business. In short, a Yes vote will improve Scotland’s economy. This will make people in Scotland financially better off.

1) Scotland has a rich and diverse economy

2) Scotland is a net contributor to the UK

3) Scotland generates far more tax than the UK average

4) Westminster has cost Scotland £64 billion in the past 30 years

5) Scotland has a lower deficit and lower public spending than the UK

6) Scotland has strong exports

7) Scotland’s oil fields remain a massive financial asset

8) Scotland has huge potential in renewable energy

9) Scotland is one of the top UK locations for inward investment

10) An independent Scotland can support Scottish business in tax, regulation, the labour market, innovation and global exports

Conclusion

There is overwhelming evidence that Scotland will be economically better off as an independent country. Even opponents of independence have conceded that Scotland can be a successful independent country.  Their own negative economic forecast estimated that Scots would be just £1 worse off a year.

In contrast every single Government Expenditure and Revenue report for the last 30 years – compiled with official statistics – finds that Scotland generated more tax per head than the UK.

If voters are convinced that Scotland will do better economically a majority support independence. Yet astonishingly around 34% of the electorate currently believe that Scotland would fare worse economically as an independent country; while 37% believe Scotland is incapable of independence. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest this. Not a single economic expert supports such a doom laden proposition.

This demonstrates that truthful economic information like the facts contained in this article will change the result of the independence referendum.

With the knowledge that Scotland will benefit economically from independence, business and citizens will move towards voting Yes as it is the only way to ensure progress for themselves, their businesses and their communities.

Scotland will vote for independence because the economic case for independence is unanswerable.

Original article Michael Gray for Business for Scotland

The business case for independence comes to East Kilbride

Ivan McKee

Leading pro-Business Yes campaigner, Ivan McKee of Business for Scotland, is coming to East Kilbride to set out the business case for a Yes vote in the Independence Referendum.

Ivan worked in manufacturing for thirty years, mostly for large companies. Eight years ago he launched his own manufacturing consultancy and turnaround company.

He has worked in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and currently has manufacturing businesses in Scotland, England, and Eastern Europe.

Business for Scotland hit the headlines recently when its challenge to the anti-independence stance of the Confederation of British Industry led that organisation to register as a pro-union campaigning organisation, and then, after much confusion, to deregister.

Yes East Kilbride is holding a series of meetings that will allow voters to hear the facts about Scotland’s potential as an independent country, and the implications for them. These meetings, and key information about the issues discussed, will be reported in this blog.

The Business for Scotland meeting with Mr McKee takes place in the Bruce Hotel, at 7pm, on Tuesday 27th May.

Ivan Mc Kee said

“All the data shows clearly that Scotland contributes significantly more to the UK than it takes out.”

“Scotland’s natural resources put us in a much better position to weather future economic storms than being tied to a UK economy which is too heavily dependent on casino-style financial services.

“After Independence, Scotland would continue to enjoy close trading relationships with the rest of the UK, as well as with other countries in Europe.”

Paul Mc Cartney, Convenor of Yes East Kilbride, said:

“We can all see the damage done to the East Kilbride economy by Westminster’s focus on London-based financial services.

“Only a Yes vote on 18th September will give businesses in Scotland the opportunity and the support to use Scotland’s resources to build a fairer and more sustainable economy for the 21st century and beyond.

“We look forward to welcoming representatives of East Kilbride’s business community to the Bruce Hotel to hear the business case for a Yes vote.”

Further reading.

Scotland's Future, Chapter 3 - Finance and the Economy - Scottish Government

Scotland's Future, Chapter 8 - Environment, Rural Scotland, Energy and Resources - Scottish Government

UK economic recovery on shaky ground - The Guardian

No campaign EU membership myth falls apart - Business for Scotland

A message for all NHS and Health workers in East Kilbride

Responsibility for health in Scotland has allowed us to show what can be achieved with the full powers of a Yes vote. We've taken a very different approach to health and social care from that taken by Westminster.

Since 1999, Scottish governments have made steady improvements to Scotland's health and the quality of healthcare, while protecting the NHS as a free public service, consistent with the values of the NHS and the priorities of the people in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament has introduced a smoking ban in public places, reduced waiting times, and made significant reductions in premature deaths from cancer, heart disease and stroke.

In delivering and protecting free personal care we have demonstrated that Scotland can provide support for older people in a way that looks after them, maintains their dignity and respects the contribution they have made to society.

However, with 80% of the UK austerity cuts still to come, experts reckon NHS spend could fall to 6% of GDP by 2021 - the lowest level since 2003.

Through the Barnett Formula, changes in the Scottish Budget are tied to changes in the budget set for England by the UK Government. Figure 1 below shows previous and planned changes in NHS spend for England.

Graph courtesy of The Kings Fund

Figure 2 shows the dramatic decline this will produce on NHS spending as a % of GDP. Down from a peak of 8% of the UK economy in 2000 to 2002, to just 6% in less than 10 years time.

Graph courtesy of The Kings Fund

So, although control of the Scottish NHS is devolved, decisions taken in Westminster will have a huge influence over services in Scotland.

Also, without control over Scotland's budget and with further cuts from Westminster we won't be able to address the inequalities which are the root causes of many of our country's health problems.

The No campaign wants to see Westminster keep control of Scotland's purse-strings. This is the real threat to Scotland's NHS.

If you work in the NHS or have a health background, and are passionate about a health service that is free at the point of need - join YES NHS here.  Whether you're a non-medical NHS worker, a medical student, a GP or a nurse, get involved in the new group.

Based on an article by Yes Scotland