Independent Scotland in the EU could replicate Irish success, claims Forbes
Rejoining the European Union after Scotland becomes independent could see the country become as successful economically as Ireland, the SNP’S finance minister has said.
Writing in The Scotsman, Kate Forbes said a report by Sir Tom Hunter that called for “radical” economic change in Scotland “illustrates the great opportunities for Scotland’s economy”.
The report published by Oxford Economics accused Westminster and Holyrood of not being bold enough on economy policy, and warned it was not “realistic” to expect either to transform things given the current approach
The report pointed to Scot
land’s economy lagging so far behind some other countries that it would need a business comparable in size with Google’s total global output to bring its GDP per head of population up the level of Norway’s.
Ms Forbes argues the report from Sir Tom shows that Scotland “faces major challenges”, but also points out “structural inequalities of the union and its economy”.
Drawing comparisons with other smaller European nations such as Norway and Denmark, the MSP candidate for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said independence and rejoining the EU would give Scotland the opportunity to develop its economy to create a“moreprosperousandfairer country”.
Likeningscotlandtoireland before joining the European Union but post-independence,msforbessaysrejoining the EU would give Scotland a “seatatthetoptableinourown right” and access to the European single market.
She writes: “If Ireland can do it, so can Scotland.”