DEPUTY HOPEFUL SAYS INDEPENDENCE WILL TAKE WORK
4 Sunday Mail The last SNP deputy leadership candidate to launch his campaign yesterday admitted independence would not instantly deliver a land of milk and honey.
But Tommy Sheppard said any pitfal ls for an independent Scotland would be compensated by the satisfaction of overcoming them.
The par t y’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson said on Friday that the Yes side made a mistake in 2014’s referendum campa ign by not conceding there were potential risks.
His comments came after other senior party f igures admitted it might take several years for the economy to settle after independence and that higher taxes for the better-off might be necessary.
But Sheppard insisted there was nothing to fear from independence.
He said: “I don’t have a downside for independence.
“I know it’s not going to be all milk and honey and the streets aren’t paved with gold. There wil l be challenges along the way. But I think it is an upside to be presented with, to organise and win those challenges in front of you.
“So, I don’t see that as a downside but neither do I pretend that it’s going to be easy. There are challenges for every country in the world.
“But I have one simple message: opponents whether or not they can make the same pledge.
“Angus, for my mind, is already part of the SNP leadership team. I want to work with him. I want to join him by playing a different role, bring a fresh perspective and try and add to what is there already.”
Sheppard was one of 56 SNP MPs elected to Westminster last year and said they could block plans by PM Theresa May for Brexit – unless there is a special deal for Scotland.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has campaigned since June’s vote for Scotland to have EU membership even if the UK leaves.
Sheppard said: “I’m pretty sure that unless the Brexit plan contains
special arrangements for Scotland to allow us to have a dif ferent relationship with the EU, we will be voting down any Brexit plan that comes in front of the House of Commons. We are not completely powerless in this game.”
Sheppard added that a decision on Scotland being ruled by a monarch could be decided after independence is achieved.
He said: “Independence is about having the right to choose. I’ve been a republican since I was old enough to vote but I want to work with monarchists and others to make sure we get the maximum breadth of a movement to be a self-governing independent country.”