Independence is essential to build a fairer, stronger, greener Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said as she launched the Scottish Government’s independence economy prospectus.
The First Minister said the paper, Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence, "sets out plans to make the economy work for everyone" and "forge a different path to the Brexit based UK economic model".
The proposals include:
- Re-joining the European Union (EU) and the European Single Market
- A redesigned energy market that aims to provide secure and reliable low cost energy
- Retaining free movement of people, without a passport, across the UK and Ireland
- Using the pound sterling, until "the time is right" to move to a Scottish pound
- Up to £20 billion in major infrastructure investment through the Building a New Scotland Fund, including investment in more energy-efficient homes, greener transport, better digital and mobile connectivity, and more affordable housing
- Using full powers over employment law to help improve pay and working conditions for people across Scotland, including introducing a minimum wage with a single rate for all age groups and stronger access to flexible working
- A plan for "better industrial relations" through a social partnership approach involving business and unions
- A migration policy tailored to Scotland’s needs and designed to boost the working population
The paper outlines the new institutions that would be set up to manage the Scottish economy, including an independent Scottish Central Bank and a new Debt Management Office.
'Independence is essential'
Speaking as the paper was published, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The UK economy is fundamentally on the wrong path and there is no real alternative on offer within the Westminster system.
“The establishment consensus on Brexit - despite the harm it is causing - illustrates that.
“For Scotland, not being independent means we are being dragged down the wrong path too: one people in Scotland did not vote for.
“To build a more stable, sustainable economy - with fairness and human wellbeing at heart - independence is therefore essential.
“That is the fundamental point we make in this paper. Independence is not an abstract argument separate from people’s daily lives.
“It has at its heart the ambition - and crucially, it equips us with the essential tools - to build a fairer, wealthier, greener, happier country.”
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Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the paper "illustrates just how thin the economic case for independence is".
He added: "The SNP are trying to sell Scotland a pig in a poke. It's completely the wrong priority at the worst possible time for Scotland.
"Nicola Sturgeon should be using government resources to help struggling families instead of to push for another divisive and unwanted referendum."
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour called on the SNP to be honest about its proposals.
The party's finance spokesman Daniel Johnson said: "The SNP need to drop the spin and come clean with people about the catastrophic reality of their economic plans.
"Despite wasting 15 years in government peddling the same old agenda, they still can't answer even the most basic questions."