This article looks at three myths about Scottish independence:
Myth 4: Business leaders are worried about the effects of independence.
Myth 5: A new Scottish currency would be difficult to establish
Myth 6: independence would threaten pensions
A survey carried out in 2020 found that only 4% of the UK’s most senior business leaders believe Scotland will not become independent, with most chief executives and finance directors relaxed about the prospect.
The survey carried out by leading research company Ipsos MORI found 95% of the top executives are confident their company would adapt to the consequences of the new constitutional arrangement.
None of the newly independent nations since the 1990's mentioned being worried about the cost of introducing a new currency, as it was clear that the benefits of full monetary policy control would outweigh any potential costs. And in any case, the government has the option to simply create enough of the new currency to cover such costs.
it’s clear the money anyone has paid into the UK state pension pot will be protected if Scotland votes to become independent. However, that doesn’t mean your pension will continue to be paid at its present low level. The government of an independent Scotland could decide to increase it.
The SNP conference in 2019 agreed that “as a minimum, an independent Scotland should plan to meet the OECD average for a Scottish state pension as a top priority for all Scottish pensioners”. This is to say, there is a willingness by the SNP to increase the state pension to the OECD average. This would mean an increase of around £200 per week per pensioner.
To suggest, as some pro-Union campaigners did in the run-up to the 2014 vote, that Scots pensioners could lose money if Scotland votes for independence is nothing short of scurrilous scaremongering for which there is no evidence at all.