Scotland is a powerhouse 1: Food and Drink

Scotland has a naturally strong economy even when held back by the failing UK. Scotland will thrive and do even better when it can make the most of its potential and use that to benefit Scotland’s people. 

In the past, Unionist parties and their media mouthpieces have managed to convince many Scots that Scotland was too wee and too poor to be a successful independent country like Norway, Denmark, Ireland etc. But Scots are beginning to see through the propaganda.

Scotland’s food and drink sector is by far the strongest in the UK

New figures released last week showed Scotland’s food and drink exports are SIX times higher than England’s per head of population. 

Research from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre valued Scotland’s international food and drink exports at more than £7 billion last year. That is equivalent to more than £1,300 per person in Scotland. England’s figure totalled £12.1 billion, which works out at just over £200 per person.

That is even though the UK’s misguided Brexit has reduced the value of trade with the EU

Scotland’s ongoing exporting success is despite being part of the failing UK. The UK has built up trade barriers with 27 European countries through their misguided Brexit, which was imposed on Scotland. 

The UK government has also signed trade deals on behalf of Scotland without considering Scotland’s interests or consulting with the Scottish parliament. 

Exporting to the EU used to be straightforward. 

Now it is fraught with red tape, extra cost, risk and uncertainty with expensive delays. These get worse over time as the rift deepens and the international trading situation becomes more uncertain. 

Scottish businesses are exporting more to the rest of the UK  

Now more of Scotland’s food and drink goes to the rest of the UK. That means that Unionists are able to claim that the UK is a more important business partner than the EU. But they never add that this is because the UK took a hammer to Scotland’s most important  international trading relationships! 

Ireland benefits from EU membership

Ireland which has a similar population density to Scotland and also produces a lot of high value food and drink exports is still in the EU and does even better than Scotland. Ireland’s food and drink exports are worth double Scotland’s at £14 billion, working out as £2,640 per head. 

An independent Scotland could do as well as Ireland

There is no reason that an independent Scotland back in the EU could not aspire to do as well as Ireland does in this increasingly important sector. 

These figures are a huge credit to Scotland’s food and drink producers, who continue to punch well above their weight internationally. They are just one of many of Scotland’s economic strengths and show that Scotland could survive and thrive as an independent country.

22,000 others have already pledged their support, because only a non-party-political independence campaign can move independence support to the levels we need to win our independence. We Believe in Scotland – Join us!