This is the first of three interviews I have done for the National in Scotland. Each is with the economics spokesperson for a major Scottish pro-independence party. I started with Drew Hendry, who was the spokesperson on economics for the SNP group in Westminster until the election was called. He has a good chance of being back there on 5 July:
The interview was frustrating when it came to taxes.
The admission on the currency was given more readily than I expected: this was not the old leadership line. Is there a hint of change in the air?
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Why is everyone ignoring the existing Review of Electricity Market Arrangements. Greg Jackson of Octopus has said that if regional pricing was introduced Scotland would have the lowest price of Electricity in Europe. Changing the market through the political review that started 2 years ago needs to be high priority
The SNP as a Scottish pro-independence party? Since they refuse to work with other independence parties or groups, that claim is on a very shoogly peg. Just look at their actions compared with their words since 2015. With Brexit they did nothing but endlessly spout embarrassingly meaningless phrases about Scotland not being dragged out of the EU. It was.
With regards to funding the requirements of an independent Scotland, to take just one huge example, it’d help if the SNP hadn’t ‘sold’ renewables licenses at a fire sale price. As for rejoining the EU, it appears that the creation of freeports & special economic zones has scuppered that.
https://x.com/SSalyers2/status/1802761799122448778
The SNP are increasingly being seen as just a Scottish devolutionist party and until their actions prove otherwise, only a fool would believe their words.
As my comments here and in The National have shown over time, I sympathise with what you say. The SNP have a poor record of listening to their members.
are you scottish? you don’t sound it
No, I am not. Do you have a problem with that? The National does not.