Currency Economics of Independence

BfS on currency and that key SNP conference vote

Prior to the Sustainable Growth Commission report being published, BfS issued our currency position which was covered on the front page of The National and we haven’t changed our position.

We believe that an independent Scotland should have a sovereign currency at the time most in line with the economic and social wellbeing of the nation.  That time might be right away, it depends on the political realities of the day, but it’s probably after a transitional period where Scotland uses sterling, until it suits us not to do so.

The truth is that an independent Scotland has many currency solutions open to it that would all work perfectly well.  Each has benefits and each has drawbacks. However, they all share one simple fact in common. Any currency option combined with independence will be significantly better for the people of Scotland than remaining in the UK.

Scotland is one of the world’s most naturally wealthy nations, it is a manufacturing powerhouse, a leading exporter, has innovative cutting edge industries and a highly educated workforce. All it lacks are the powers to create bespoke economic and social policies to maximise and then share the benefits derived from those significant economic advantages more widely amongst its people, rather than providing hidden subsidies to the failing UK economy. 

Business for Scotland gave evidence on multiple occasions to the Sustainable Growth Commission (SGC) and they appeared to agree with most, if not all, of our more conservative ideas but adopted none of our more ambitious ones.  We do not agree that there would be a deficit that needs reducing in an independent Scotland, as the right policies will generate significant economic growth. We did not complain about the SGC report when it came out for three reasons:

  1. It appealed to the conservative (small c) minded undecided voters that the next independence prospectus needs to get onside in order to deliver a yes vote
  2. We saw other more left-leaning think tanks throw their toys out of the pram and lose all credibility with many of the key decision-makers in the SNP (we prefer to influence rather than argue)
  3. We don’t expect many of the more conservative ideas to reach the final prospectus, which is a year or so away yet

BfS will be arguing for a different economic prospectus to the SNP anyway. If you want to be more Scandinavian than British there is nothing wrong with a smorgasbord approach to independence and the Greens in particular will play a larger role this time arround. 

Let the SNP make their case, let the left make theirs, the Greens theirs and pluralists like myself will seek to influence any post-independence Government of any colour to think more about a new, more ambitious approach to economic prosperity.  A more progressive approach that can probably only be adopted by the conservatives in society after independence has raised the consciousness and confidence of the nation. 

BfS wants independence in order to make the case for the policies we believe will lead to a fairer, greener, healthier, happier and wealthier nation than we can ever achieve within the UK – it’s a means to an end to us.

Put simply, any fully empowered government, of any colour, using any currency, governing Scotland from Holyrood to put Scotland’s interests first will always deliver better outcomes for Scotland than any Government of any colour, governing Scotland from Westminster with Scotland’s interests subjugated by those of the larger nation.       

So the question is what currency option should an independent Scotland adopt?

BfS gave clear evidence to the SGC that the best solution was to say that Scotland will have its own sovereign currency when it becomes advantageous to do so.  So to begin with there would be no change to the currency used by the people of Scotland but when it benefits the people of Scotland to move to a sovereign currency we will do so.

No set timescales, no dogmatic adherence to instant new currency because it’s the nationalist thing to do, let’s just make sure that when it works in our favour we can launch the currency and thrive. Flexibility is key in this approach, the Scottish Parliament should have the power to make the change when the time is right and that means that the SNP’s six tests are not flexible enough.

If the independence negotiations go a certain way, then we also have to accept that ASAP is the answer to when we launch the sovereign currency.

The SNP is a broad church, it’s achievements have been gained through gradualism. It is not about to change its spots and adopt radical policies that undecided and persuadable voters will not buy in indyref 2.

An independent Scotland and the rUK will still want to trade with one another after independence and if Brexit goes ahead then the currency solution that is best for Scotland may change, even dependent on the type of Brexit that is delivered. A no deal Brexit would make the credit crunch look like a good year for the banks and sink the pound. A sterlingised Scotland would be the only place the UK economy could afford to buy from.  Add to that if we were using the pound our high-value food and drink exports would soar.  

That’s just one of a dozen scenarios we need to be ready for.  Any stance that doesn’t offer the flexibility to take advantage of any scenario is dangerously limited and so, although it’s not perfect, I hope the SNP’s revised stance is adopted by the SNP conference this weekend.

Then, before the final economic prospectus is published hopefully the SNP will have added more flexibility on the currency. All currency positions will be unfairly attacked as unworkable by unionists in the next referendum and so the statement that we will use the pound to begin with but be flexible and do what’s best for Scotland is also the best promise to make on currency.

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Sources:

Indy Scotland ‘should unshackle itself from the pound’ 

Note

During the 2014 referendum BfS stated that there were multiple currency options available to an independent Scotland but backed the currency union plan, with many caveats.  At that time sterling was strong, stable and Brexit had not been voted for, Sterling was therefore an ideal candidate for a currency union.  Now sterling is volatile, vulnerable and weak and is no longer an ideal candidate for a currency union.  Flexibility on currency is now the key factor as the UK Government’s ability to help create economic stability has been destroyed by Brexit and its inability to manage it properly.

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About the author

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp is the Founder and Chief Executive of Business for Scotland. Before becoming CEO of Business for Scotland Gordon ran a business strategy and social media, sales & marketing consultancy.

With a degree in business, marketing and economics, Gordon has worked as an economic development planning professional, and in marketing roles specialising in pricing modelling and promotional evaluation for global companies (including P&G).

Gordon benefits (not suffers) from dyslexia, and is a proponent of the emerging New Economics School. Gordon contributes articles to Business for Scotland, The National and Believe in Scotland.

5 Comments

  • I totally agree with your proposals. Do you still write for theNational? I buy it every day but you seem to be missing lately

    • Thanks for the feedback – BfS is launching three new major projects and have just hired 4 more staff so I dont have time to write for anyone else at the moment. I will be writting double page invetsigations later in the year.

      • Hi Gordon,
        I always enjoy your well researched articles in the national andI look forward to more.
        I think currency and GERS figures will be weapons used by the “no” side before the next independence referendum.
        I agree with your points on currency. Little seems to be made of the fact Ireland used the pound for many years after independence.
        On GERS, we need to pick them apart and expose the biased way they are put together-a drip feed approach, bit by bit, week by week, month by month, keeping them in the limelight in a way which continually exposes their absurdity.
        Keep up the good work

        • Hi Jim – thanks and today we have just launched our new book Scotland the Brief and the finance section covers all of that. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SCOTLAND’S ECONOMY, ITS FINANCES, INDEPENDENCE AND BREXIT. To order copies of the new Scotland the Brief book just follow this link https://www.businessforscotland.com/scotland-the-brief/ , or why not test your knowledge on Scotland’s economy – Quick quiz: How much do you really know about Scotland’s economy? Give it a go then share it with your friends. ow.ly/zDaO50x0qQT

          Well timed comment there Jim

        • Hi Gordon
          Can we not use our Scottish banknotes as our currency together with sterling coinage as a hybrid temporary measure until we have our new currency .

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