With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing its grip?
Scotland
In 2026, Scotland has so much to offer. We have a huge tourism industry, our exports include whisky, gin and seafood and we have one of the most efficient ferry services in the world, contrary to what you might hear from pro-Union MSM. Scotland produces an excess of renewable energy, utilising wind, solar and hydro/wave technology. We have a publicly owned rail service (ScotRail), and in 2013 the Scottish Government acquired Prestwick Airport for £1 to prevent its closure. It has now reported profits for the last six years. That isn’t even mentioning oil and gas, the gaming industry, and the space industry. Scotland produces more small satellites than anywhere else in Europe.
I could continue to list positive stories about Scotland’s economy. I could also direct you to many other links that will focus on less favourable analyses. Let us not pretend that Scotland is perfect or that the current Scottish Government is infallible. The biggest stumbling block we face in the fight for self-determination, is a severe lack of self-confidence. After years of being told we aren’t good enough, we have started to believe it, and we underestimate ourselves. If we believe that Scotland is too wee to survive on her own, then maybe she is. Maybe “too wee” has become a self-fulfilling prophecy!
Other small countries
People frequently draw comparisons between Scotland and Norway. With a population of approximately 5.6 million, Norway’s economy has grown stronger thanks to the oil and gas industry. Norway has shrewdly invested their natural resources in a sovereign wealth fund to ensure it works for future generations. Norway’s nominal GDP for 2024 was around $484bn, and estimates for 2025 are shown to be between $506bn-$517bn.
If we look at a country that is maybe a little closer to home, then Ireland would fit the bill. Ireland became fully independent in 1937 and now has a population of around 5.4 million. In 2024 the nominal GDP of Ireland was $577 billion and that is without the natural resources shared by Scotland and Norway. It is instead, driven by international trade. In 2023 Irelands total merchandise exports included manufactured products (89.9%), food (8.5%) and mineral fuels (0.5%) while total merchandise imports included manufactured products (82.4%), food (8.6%) and mineral fuels (7.2%). Total exports were worth $356bn in 2024, while total imports were $165bn
Sceptics
Malta became independent from the UK in 1964 but remained part of the commonwealth until 1974 when they declared themselves a republic. Prior to this there were many sceptics that said Malta could not survive on its own. It was reported that the economy would not survive without the UK. However, Malta has enjoyed a sustained growth in its GDP since its independence.
Unfulfilled promises within the Union
The current UK Government promised Scotland that they would save Grangemouth Refinery; they promised WASPI women that they would review their stance on compensation; and they promised that there would be no rise in National Insurance payments. In a TV debate, Labour’s Anas Sarwar told SNP’s John Swinney that there would be “no austerity under Labour”. None of these promises have come to fruition.
This ‘equal’ union, as it stands, seems to work only in favour of the UK Government and they can overrule Scotland whenever they want on both reserved and devolved issues. They have already dragged Scotland out of the European Union, but it is highly possible that worse is on the way.
A future in this unequal union could very well include the reintroduction of fracking, bridge tolls, hospital parking fees, university fees, and water meters to bring us in line with England. They could enforce more nuclear waste upon us and more warheads, nuclear power stations, digital IDs, and private healthcare. If the UK leaves the ECHR, it will remove our right of free speech, sick pay, paid holidays, religious freedom, and the right not to be tortured.
Most of the political parties want to reform the state pension – this already includes increasing the age of entitlement and potentially removing the triple lock which allows it to rise with inflation, thus forcing people to live in poverty or work until they die. These are not exaggerations; these are promises being made by some current English political parties.
If Scotland doesn’t pull its financial weight as part of the Union, then why does the UK Government go to such lengths to stop us leaving, or refuse to grant a second referendum? Surely it would be better for the UK Government to cut us loose and watch us fail?
Independence
We can continue to speculate what an independent Scotland would look like, but the truth is, we won’t know that until we are independent. If sticking around continues along the current trend, then the risk will be worth it.
In the past, the status quo may have been considered a safer option, but that is no longer the case.
After independence, new political parties will emerge, and they will all be based and registered in Scotland. Every single one of those parties will be fighting for your vote and they will all be advocating for a better Scotland.
None of the 65 countries who gained independence from the British Empire, have sought to give up their sovereignty or rejoin it. Just to be clear, that is a 100% success rate, and as the odd’s go, that is definitive.
The only sure way that independence will not work is if we don’t try it at all. Scotland is big enough, rich enough and wise enough. We just need to stop doubting ourselves. Independence is not something that is given, it is something that is taken.
More on Scotland:
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