The fiscal deficit in Scotland is over £2,500 per person higher than it is for the UK average.
If the fiscal shortfall were only a few billion then fair enough, it’s not that important and we can deal with it when it arises, but not when it’s around £14-18bn. Facing up to it post-independence, when no real thought has gone into how it might be achieved, would be a massive challenge and potentially highly divisive across society.
Unfortunately, there seems little appetite to address the issue at present. Senior pro- independence supporters appear to care little about updating what is on offer and putting some meat on the policy bones. To wit, the dismal response of the current Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, to the latest GERS report, which was a hodgepodge of handpicked, misleading, statistics that the Fraser of Allander duly demolished.
Of course, it could be argued that we are in much more urgent need in Scotland of a vibrant debate about the future of: the NHS; schools and post school education; North Sea transition; an effective ferry system etc etc, rather than spending time on something that might never happen.
Fair point, but as long as we dwell in a political system that is run by a party which is, first and foremost, seeking independence, then some serious thought needs to be given to achieving that primary goal.