Positive future

By nature, I am a positive person. I believe my fellow Scots are perfectly capable of operating our own country successfully in the modern world. I, therefore, find it difficult to understand the perpetual negativity of the No Campaign – the Tory-Labour-Liberal Democrat alliance opposed to Scotland achieving political independence from Westminster. These people tell us we are “Better Together”, but instead of explaining why 21st century Austerity Britain is the positive outcome of 300 years of London domination, their single tactic is to trot out a continuous diet of gloom and despair. This seems to be based on the notion that Scotland is a lost cause, though perhaps it isn’t surprising as politicians who owe their careers to Westminster will campaign on that basis.

As a campaigner for the return of our country’s independence, I want to see Scotland re-join the international community of nations, free to prioritise our specific needs and make our own links, including with our immediate neighbours in England and the rest of Europe. We now have a chance to restore our identity and to present our own outlook and set of values to the world.

We can expect the No Campaign to continue claiming that investors are holding back from Scotland over concerns at the prospect of independence. Meanwhile, the investment keeps coming. Most recently, BP announced an initial £30 million decision to buy 74 massive undersea structures from Babcock in Rosyth for its offshore oil fields. Investors recognise that Scotland is a leader in the energy fields, with ever-expanding abilities.

The above was originally written for Bill’s Dunfermline Press column. This version may vary slightly.