Yorkshire will be better off if Scotland backs independence in Indyref2 – GP Taylor

I have to say that I am not their greatest fan, but I have been impressed with the way in which they have taken hard decisions and stuck to their policies even when public opinion and the leaders of other countries lobbied against them.

Nicola Sturgeon may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but she certainly has got some guts. She is the kind of politician who is not afraid to say what she thinks and has certainly outshone Boris Johnson over the last year.

Her reward for this will be another referendum on Scottish independence within the next 18 months. It will be impossible for Westminster to refuse ‘Indyref2’ and stand against the rise in nationalism north of the border.

Figures show that there is a growing number of people who want to break ties with England and go it alone. Scotland has managed to keep its national identity whilst we in England appear to be growing ashamed of our past.

I firmly believe that we are at the right time in history to allow Scotland, long regarded as a northern province, to become a nation once again. It is something that I am not fearful of and I am sure that it will actually benefit Yorkshire in many ways.

Brexit has become one of the reasons why the SNP is gaining ground and possibly will win a landslide at in next May’s elections. Should they win such a mandate, there is no reason why a second referendum should not quickly follow. It would be morally wrong for Westminster to stop it from happening.

At the last election, Boris Johnson wanted a mandate to ‘get Brexit done’, and that is what happened. That is exactly what the Scottish people will do next year. Their wishes should be respected.

There will be financial benefits from allowing the Scots from English control. The amount of money they are given can be well spent here in Yorkshire. Imagine if our county was given just a part of the billions in financial support given to our northern neighbours?

Our road and rail network could receive the boost that they so badly need. Hill farmers could be subsidised and fishermen helped. Our tourist industry and green energy could be given much needed funds.

All of this would give Yorkshire the financial help it deserves. After all, we have a bigger economy than Scotland 
and a higher population, so it is only 
right that we get a large bite of the cake that is annually poured down Scottish throats.

Independence would mean that all Army, RAF and Navy based north of the border would have to relocate. Catterick Garrison could become a national army hub and we already have airbases that could be used by aircraft wanting to keep a check on Russian bombers over the North Sea.

Independence would also force an English government to reassess its role in the world and its policy on a nuclear deterrent. There would be nothing wrong with England abandoning its global attempts of policing places it is not wanted.

Scotland going it alone would mean that England would be less likely to wade into foreign wars as its influence in the world diminishes. It would give us a chance to attempt to discover what exactly being English is all about.

Parliament would also be able to make laws for England without interference from MPs north of the border.

It would be strange having to show your passport on the A1 at Berwick, but would that be a bad thing? I think not. Perhaps, there would be more jobs for bricklayers employed to finish the work that Hadrian started.

If Scotland were to join the EU, we would need to have a hard border to 
stop economic migrants sneaking in through the back door. Scotland would also have its own money and the owner of my local chippy will actually be right when they are presented with Scottish currency and bellow that it is ‘not legal tender’.

Scotland and England were forced together by a joint monarchy and not by the desire of the people in those countries. An independent Scotland would have the opportunity to still be part of the Commonwealth and play an important role in the life of Britain.

Sadly, I think that it would be a bitter divorce and English politicians would do their utmost to frustrate and annoy their former partners. Alas, what Scotland doesn’t realise is that the dwindling oil and gas reserves are no longer an incentive for some politicians to fight over as the world quite rightly pursues green, renewable energy.

I have to say that I cannot wait for ‘Indyref2’ and I know that it will rightly go in favour of the SNP. It will be an exciting time and can only benefit Yorkshire in a positive way.

GP Taylor is a writer and broadcaster. 
He lives in Whitby.

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