[ad_1]
Ross, Skye and Lochaber’s MP will tell his party’s annual conference today, which will be held online this year as a result of coronavirus restrictions, that Scotland is “close to independence.” His speech comes alongside a tweet in which he shared a video promoting the Scotland case for him to do alone. In it, he commented: “Scotland has what it takes to be an independent country, fully playing our role in the world as a force for progress, justice and equality.
“Next year’s elections will be the most important in Scottish history.” Together we can put Scotland’s future in the hands of Scotland # SNP20 “.
However, critics were not lacking who expressed their skepticism.
One simply asked, “How much would independence cost?”
A second poster responded: “They haven’t worked yet even though they have since 2014.”
Ian Blackford has been challenged after his claims for independence (Image: GETTY / Twitter)
Ian Blackford’s tweet on the subject sparked a mixed response (Image: Twitter)
Patrick Edwardson added: “No one disputes that Scotland could be independent.
“The best questions are: does it make sense? Would the people of Scotland be better off (both financially and non-financially)?
“It is not obvious that the answers to these are ‘yes’.”
Another, referring to the mechanism by which Scotland can have higher levels of public spending compared to England, added: “Well, if Scotland becomes independent, Scotland is not entitled to the 15 billion pounds sterling annually of England’s Barnet formula. It does not use the pound sterling because it is money and it has no armed forces.
“Oil will also be outlawed soon due to green energy, so Scotland will fail within a year.”
ONLY IN: Boris Johnson warned that he faces a BIG fight to keep the promise of ‘no taxes’
Ian Blackford with Prime Minister and SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon (Image: GETTY)
Another poster read: “A few years ago it was time for independence.
“We said no because it was economically unviable. It is more unfeasible now.
“The welfare bill is huge. Wake up.”
Selwyn Burton asked: “Without the rest of the UK, Scotland will be just another small country with no influence in the world.
“I’m sure they will make it, but don’t fool yourself that they will be important or have a seat at any head table.”
DO NOT MISS:
Nicola Sturgeon describes how she plans to secure independence [REVEAL]
Sturgeon faces backlash from his own members as SNP splits over indy plan [LATEST]
Eustice shakes off SNP over Brexit plans to keep Scotland tied to EU [INSIGHT]
A poster asked how much independence would cost (Image: Twitter)
Another questioned the wisdom of Scotland going alone (Image: Twitter)
Another critic suggested that Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for an independent Scotland to join the EU were also a factor.
Robert Davies warned: “You will not be independent if you are in the EU and the euro.”
Others were more understanding.
One said: “People who oppose independence must recognize that independence as such does not really exist in modern international affairs.
“Scotland wants independence largely because of what England has become: we want to be a self-determined progressive country.”
Recent polls have indicated support for independence (Image: Ipsos MORI)
David Dwellon said, “Excellent presentation. Go ahead.”
The question of how Scotland will manage financially outside of the UK is a central issue for those opposed to independence.
Speaking to Express.co.uk earlier this year, Kevin Hague, chairman of the These Islands think tank, said the case for economic independence fell apart under close scrutiny, including the claim that Scotland he was a net contributor to the UK economy who could afford to pay his own way.
He explained, “That was true for one year out of the last 20 years.
“It’s just not the case the vast majority of the time.
Ian Blackford speaks in the Commons earlier this month (Image: PA)
“I always make the economic case for staying in the UK. I think if people are well informed, the case for independence withers and dies.”
In his speech later today, Blackford is expected to say: “Our plan, our job and our focus is to win a majority of independence in Holyrood next May. We have our candidates in place, we have momentum and we have a leader in our nation trusts.
“We have all come a long way, and now we are only a short distance from independence.
“But just as we have traveled here together, we can only complete this journey together.
“My message to all of us is this: keep your heart, keep alert and keep the faith. A fairer, greener and European New Scotland is now ours to win.
[ad_2]
