As the Jubilee stardust fades, our thoughts turn once again onto the big decisions that lie ahead and the SNPs argument that Scotland would be better off independent merits serious consideration - not least because Question Time comes from Inverness tonight.
Certain key decisions jump out for an aswer, of which there is preently none:
- If Scotland does not join the Euro [as the SNP have indicated they want to do], do they accept that the keeping of the pound will necessitate interest rates and governance on this issue from the Bank Of England's Independent Monetary Policy Committee?
- Military bases: is the rest of Britain to keep and pay for the bases in Scotland [Faslane, for example, employs 11,000 directly or indirectly] and fund them - given that Scotland would not have its own army / subs? Why not move the jobs all to England or Wales if we are paying for them down south?
- Pensions: how will Scotland pay its massive public sector pensions bill on its own?
- What if the Shetlands and Orkneys declare independence from Scotland? Does that not mean that they would get most of the oil rights? I am afraid it does.
Alex Salmond is totally wrong, and on a vanity trip, to declare independence. Any serious analysis shows that we are better off together. I look forward to making the case in Scotland when I am visiting and meeting Ruth Davidson, MOSP, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, in late June in Edinburgh
