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The ‘Windsor Framework’ doesn’t change the underlying reality that Northern Ireland has what Scotland wanted and voted for – access to the EU single market. But it does streamline the light-touch border between Ireland/Northern Ireland and the UK – that could be a model for an independent Scotland. 

Read more at https://www.businessforscotland.com/light-touch-border-between-ireland-ni-and-the-uk-could-be-a-model-for-independent-scotland/

The mainstream news media is reporting that fresh vegetable shortages in British supermarkets are caused by “bad weather in Spain and Morocco”. But Brexit is a big factor – it has disrupted Britain’s supply chains and is reducing food production in the UK. 

A large scale poll by Believe in Scotland conducted by Panelbase has found a two thirds majority of support amongst Scottish voters for an independent Scotland to rejoin the EU. 

Read more at https://www.believeinscotland.org/poll-shows-68-of-voters-want-an-independent-scotland-to-rejoin-the-eu/

A Panelbase poll conducted on behalf of Believe in Scotland has found 48% of respondents in support of Yes, the same as polls in October 2022, despite alleged ‘setbacks’ for the independence campaign. These results show that with a concentrated effort by the independence movement and the Scottish Government to put the focus back on independence, the results can be even higher and put us in a good position to hold a referendum campaign. 

Scottish business leaders are speaking out in ever stronger terms as they count the cost of a hard Brexit Scotland didn’t vote for. In one example, the President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland told their annual conference last week that the post-Brexit chaos could “write off” the Scottish farming industry. 

A poverty gap is opening between England and Scotland, in particular in child poverty rates, according to a new report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. In its annual report: “UK Poverty 2023: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK”, the charity reports that rates of child poverty are diverging between the two countries. 

ALBA Depute Leader and fair energy prices campaigner Kenny MacAskill MP has obtained new figures from the UK Government which show that Scotland, with almost 1 in 5 domestic properties, has the highest number of households off the gas grid, of any of the home nations.  In addition, the figures reveal that the areas which are most affected in Scotland also have the highest levels of fuel poverty. 

Introducing his Scotland (Self Determination) Bill which has the support of SNP MPs Joanna Cherry KC MP, Douglas Chapman MP and Angus Brendan MacNeil MP, in the House of Commons on Wednesday 1 February ALBA Westminster Leader Neale Hanvey MP will state:

Scotland currently produces the most renewable energy per capita among the UK nations and is a potential global leader in this field.  Hydrogen in particular could represent Scotland’s greatest industrial opportunity since the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea. The technology has the power to unleash huge economic benefits while supporting the transition to net zero.

But Scotland is being failed by the Westminster government in its transition to renewables, which leaves the question open: Is the UK government preventing Scotland from reaching its full potential?

The UK government is attacking workers’ rights in draconian new laws, which will be imposed on Scotland –  despite fierce opposition from Scotland’s democratically elected Parliament. 

The UK is also ripping up many workers’ rights that depend on EU laws – such as mandatory rest breaks and holiday pay for part-time workers. 

Read more at: https://www.believeinscotland.org/the-uk-is-ripping-up-workers-rights-an-independent-scotland-can-do-better/