Student Voices - Ashley Husband Powton
by Unknown - 21:17 on 24 August 2014
I am voting yes for democracy, a fairer society, and a positive presence on the European and international stages.
I believe that Scotland, like any other nation, should have control over its own destiny, the power to make its own decisions and determine its own affairs in a way that reflects the needs, aspirations and values of the majority of the people of Scotland, instead of having hostile policies imposed upon us by governments we did not vote for.
Even more importantly, I firmly believe that Scotland would use the powers of democracy and independence to create a fairer and more equal society, rejecting the indefensible and abhorrent status quo of food banks for the working poor, staggering levels of poverty, and an ever-widening gap between rich and poor, all of which is set to worsen in we remain in the UK – regardless of which party is elected in 2015, Labour and Tories alike are thirled to a destructive neo-liberal agenda and committed to a merciless programme of greater austerity which punishes the poor and most vulnerable in society. We have only seen 10% of cuts so far.
On the European and international stages, I believe that Scotland would play a positive and constructive role, rejecting the xenophobia, military aggression and nuclear weapons of mass destruction of the British state.
And don’t let anyone tell you that we couldn’t do it. Not even the most ardent opponents of independence are making that claim anymore, because it’s simply not true. As part of the UK at the moment, Scotland’s economic output per head is significantly higher than the UK average. Scotland has a smaller deficit and more affordable public services. For the last five years, we have contributed 9.5% of UK spending and received only 9.3% of spending back (who’s subsidising who?). With independence, the Financial Times has clearly stated that Scotland would start off with healthier finances than the rest of the UK and be one of the top 20 richest countries in the world. If a geographic share of UK oil and gas output is taken into account, Scotland’s GDP per head is bigger than that of France. Even excluding oil and gas, per capita GDP is higher than that of Italy. Scotland has all the foundations for a strong and diverse economy: alongside oil and gas, we have huge exports in whisky, food and drink, chemicals and a broad range of manufactured goods. We have more top universities per head than any other country in the world. We have a booming tourism industry, and huge potential in renewable energy, with 25% of Europe’s potential wind and tidal energy, and 10% of Europe’s potential wave energy.
2014 is our momentous and historical opportunity to do something better. Think of all that we could achieve with our future in our own hands, and vote yes in confidence, determination, hope and optimism.
Ashley Husband Powton
University of the Highlands and Islands
University of St Andrews
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