We still don’t know how Scots independence would add up

From: Paul Rouse, Main Street, Sutton on Derwent, York.

HAVING watched the Independence debate, I almost hope the Scots vote “yes”. The problem is that I have no say in the matter, and I’m not sure that I, or anyone else, know enough about it.

I can, and will, however, register my disapproval of any attempt by the UK Government to bribe them into staying, as Scotland already gets more than its fair share of UK public expenditure.

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As for Alex Salmond’s threat to walk away from Scotland’s share of the UK debt, let him.

It’s only eight per cent of the total, and I suspect that we would soon claw that back from the money we save by getting rid of Scotland. And he would rue the day he sank their credit rating.

However, it surprises me is that no one seems to have produced a “balance sheet” so all of us in the UK can compare our economy with and without Scotland.

If they had, we might have a clearer idea of whether or not we would be better off without them.

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For example, we might lose the oil taxes, but we also lose the Scottish subsidies (and lots of Scottish Labour politicians, which is something many of us would put firmly in the plus column).

Perhaps the politicians in Westminster are reluctant 
to do so because they do not want the English getting too engaged in the Independence debate in case we demand a say in 
the process?

Nor has anyone published the fact that the UK Government has stated it will not guarantee savings in Scottish institutions.

If Scotland becomes independent, I will be removing my savings from those Scottish institutions, because they would lose that guarantee.

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I would also want to know who would then own the Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, etc, currently registered in Scotland and owned by the UK taxpayer.

Scotland on its own could not cope with another financial crisis of the kind we saw a few years ago, as it would bankrupt the country if they tried, so if they end up owning these banks, I, for one, will close my accounts.

I lived and worked in Scotland for eight years. I don’t think that the Scots are daft enough to follow Alex into the unknown, but hearts could overrule heads, and I know that many Scots hate the English with a passion.

For that reason, it could be a close-run thing.

Although I sort of hope they go, I don’t think Scotland, or the rest of us, know enough about the implications of their decision.