Scotland's economy benefits from a range of advantages that few other countries of similar size can match. Our natural wealth is a key foundation stone for a prosperous future as an independent country. It is reasonable to believe that a country as naturally wealthy as Scotland would thrive if it were to gain the power to manage for its benefit.
A poll found that 52% of UK businesses had been disrupted by Brexit. Three quarter of those expected the problems to last a long time. Of those companies which do a moderate or large amount of trading with Europe, 60% expect the situation to get worse rather than better.
Westminster’s obsession with Brexit will never allow them to reconsider the decision to leave Europe. Scotland is disproportionately badly hit by Brexit.
An opinion poll showed that a desire to rejoin Europe was the issue that could drive a majority independence vote in a future independence referendum.
Luckily Scotland has an alternative, all we need to do is grasp it. Now that the Leave vote in the rest of the UK has removed Scotland from the EU we have to rejoin and that will take time. We may have to wait as long as four years to become full members but we can in the shorter term join the European Economic Area (the EU Single Market) without being full EU members. That would take less time as Scotland already meets all the criteria having been EU members for so long. In other words, a Norway style deal that also gives us flexibility in our trading relationship with the rest of the UK after independence.
When we do so Scotland’s many vital advantages and significant untapped potential will allow us to develop our already successful exporting record without being held back by the UK. Escaping the dead hand of Westminster policies and the pressing new dangers of Brexit will be a huge boon to Scottish exports and the Scottish economy. They will thrive with the bespoke policies and attention they can only receive in an independent Scotland.