Nicola Sturgeon says no other country is better prepared for independence than Scotland
16.10.2022 - 12:35
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Nicola Sturgeon says no country in history has been "better prepared to become independent" than Scotland.
The First Minister's comment comes as the Scottish Government is due to publish a paper on its plans for the economy and currency of an independent Scotland on Monday.
It is the third release in the Building a New Scotland series, which aims to set out a refreshed prospectus for Scottish independence. It is expected to provide detail on moving toward a "fairer, greener independent economy to help people live happy, healthy, fulfilling lives".
To do so, the paper will set out proposals including rejoining the European Union for access to the Single Market, a redesigned energy market that will provide "secure and reliable" low-cost energy, and greater workplace security with an end to "age discrimination in minimum wage setting".
It will also outline a migration policy which is designed to boost the country's working population. Topics such as currency and fiscal policy, border arrangements and the proposed Building a New Scotland Fund - which aims to deliver investment of £20 billion in the first decade of independence - will feature in the document.
The SNP leader said the debate on independence is not about "change versus status quo", adding: "There is no status quo, and Scotland cannot afford to live under Westminster control any longer."
She said: "In 2014 we were promised stability if we voted no to independence. Instead, we got austerity and Brexit, and are now being taken on a libertarian joy-ride.
"These are not abstract issues - they are doing real damage to our economy, public services, mortgage costs and pensions."
Sturgeon continued: "(Monday's) economic prospectus will outline how resource-rich Scotland