Going it alone

One scenario which appears absent from the Beveridge Independent Budget Review is the effect of independence on the Scottish economy.

Economic prospects can be radically altered by a major political change, so I fail to see why independence consequentials are not considered.

The same equally applies to the existing National Planning Framework, which ran scared of the beneficial impact of independence. Scottish independence offers an immediate and attractive economic and political opportunity for Scotland and Westminster. It would enable Whitehall to slice though its expensive and extensive civil servant bureaucracy, which is based in England but service Scotland and is paid for by the Scottish taxpayer.

The Scottish Government would in its stead create the departments of state such as foreign affairs, defence and interior and relative necessary agencies in Scotland but in a much more focused and efficient manner, thus employing far fewer civil servant replacements proportionately than Whitehall.

Foreign governments, international organisations and multinationals will open offices in Scotland which will create an immediate major opportunity for Scottish job seekers and the commercial and domestic construction industry.

GRAEME McCORMICK

Arden, by Loch Lomond