Ten Reasons why Scotland is Stronger in the UK
With the SNP ramping up its campaign for Scexit and Nicola Sturgeon demanding a divisive and unwanted second independence referendum next year, it is vital that we continue to make the positive argument for remaining in the UK.
There are many reasons why Scotland is stronger in the UK, and this campaign highlights ten of the key reasons.
We are stronger together as part of the UK, and we must fight for that positive future every single day.
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Scotland trades more with the rest of the UK than we do with the rest of the world combined.
According to the latest Scottish Government figures, our largest trading partner by far is the rest of the UK. This Home Market makes up 60% of our total trade - a massive £51.2bn. A hard border with England would erect trade barriers with England.
The EU accounts for 19% of our total exports, standing at £16.1bn and our trade with the rest of the world stands at 21%, totalling £17.7bn.
The latest figures from the Scottish Government (GERS) show that public spending in Scotland was £75.3bn, but revenues raised in Scotland totalled only £62.7bn.
Scotland’s deficit was therefore £12.6bn, or 7% of GDP, compared to just 1.1% across the UK.
In order for an independent Scotland to join the European Union, it would have to meet certain criteria to become an applicant state, the Copenhagen Criteria and the Stability and Growth Pact.
Scotland's current deficit of 7% is over twice as high as the 3% level set by the EU for all member states.
There would be no automatic entry for an independent Scotland.
As part of the UK we have a seat at the global table at the UN (United Nations), the G7 (which is an organisation made up of the world's seven largest and most advanced economies), and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).
We use this influence to promote peace and lead the fight against poverty and climate change.
Whatever your views on Brexit, independence is not the answer. It would be eight times as costly as the worse-case Brexit.
Read the report from Scottish Business UK here.
According to the latest Scottish Government figures, Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS), Scotland generates 8% of the UK's taxes and benefits from 9.3% of the UK's public spending.
This figure is taken from the Scottish Government’s GERS document. It is known as the "UK Dividend" and is the difference between how much Scotland contributes per head in taxes and how much is received back in public spending.
In 2018-19 there was £1,661 additional public spending per head in Scotland compared to the UK figure and £307 less revenue collected per head in Scotland compared to the UK figure, giving a UK Dividend of £1,968 per head, or £7,872 for a family of four over the year.
We can keep the pound in our pockets if we remain in the UK. Keeping the pound will help protect mortgages, pensions and wages. Keeping the pound is also essential to preserve our financial services industry, supporting approximately 200,000 jobs according to Scottish Financial Enterprise.
Scotland remaining in the UK helps to protect jobs. As many as 545,000 jobs in Scotland are supported by the rest of the UK.
For more information you can read the Fraser of Allander Institute report here
Over three-quarters of research grants for Scottish universities come from UK-wide funding according to Audit Scotland
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