Let Scotland run its economy

The 1999 devolution settlement and subsequent amendments to the Scotland Act have failed to provide the Scottish Parliament with significant economic powers to transform our nation.

Revised GDP figures confirmed that the UK ended 2023 in recession and Brexit continues to hinder economic recovery, with higher import costs and staff recruitment shortages.

At the same time Britain is now the most unequal large economy in Europe with the gap between the richest and poorest widening.

Therefore, the Scottish government is limited it what it can do to alter the wider UK narrative of failed investment in the NHS, a failed energy policy whereby Scotland’s households pay much higher daily standing charges, and lack of capital expenditure in public infrastructure.

While Holyrood can implement progressive social reforms, it can only mitigate Westminster policies through the Scottish Child Payment to reduce poverty and help households with lower council tax bills.

When Holyrood introduces innovative measures such as the Deposit Return Scheme, to help the environment and reduce litter, they are blocked by Westminster and illustrates why we need independence, failing which, full fiscal autonomy.

Tommy Sheppard’s amendment at the SNP conference in November committed the party to demand the permanent transfer of referendum powers to the Scottish Parliament, control over employment rights, the living wage, windfall taxation, regulation, pricing and production of energy sources, employment visas for overseas workers and new borrowing powers to invest in a green energy transition.

Add to that devolution of broadcasting, then we might see a more balanced view of Scotland’s strengths and weaknesses in the media.

Mary Thomas , Edinburgh