A Future With Hope

Scotland is a rich nation, both in human talent and natural resources. Hence the desire of the UK government to hang on to us as long as possible. But now the Scots are awakening to a renewed sense of their own worth and strengths. The Scottish Democratic Alliance (SDA) stands for a sovereign Scotland, A Scotland governed by Scots for the Scots!

• Our Constitution
  • An Independent Scotland
  • A Written Constitution
  • A Modern Democracy
• Economic Prosperity
  • Fair Taxation
  • Banking and Currency Reform
  • Supporting Business
• Caring for Each Other
  • Protecting our NHS
  • Supporting the Vulnerable
  • Improving Public Services
• National Security
  • Scottish Armed Forces
  • No Nuclear Weapons
  • Fostering Global relationships
• Protecting our Future
  • Investing in Education
  • Sustainability Fund
  • Nurturing our Resources

 

Independence: The SDA support the Yes campaign and will vote for Independence. The current posturing by the UK government is a flagrant violation of international law as can be read on our website under Constitution/Independence/Self-Determination. Under international law the people of Scotland have the legal right to hold a referendum without interference from the Westminster government.

Constitution of Scotland: The SDA are proposing a modern, written, codified Constitution document based on the principles of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, which will affirm the sovereignty of the people, outline the structure of our society and define our human rights.

Taxation: The current tax collection system is complicated, expensive to collect, out-dated and wasteful. With independence Scotland should follow the example of other successful small nations and switch to more efficient systems of revenue raising such as Flat Tax and or Land Value Rent.  

Future Banking Services: The current public debt is a combination of the government spending more than they collect in revenues, and borrowing the difference from the banking system. Essentially handing over control of money to the bankers, thereby enabling the bankers to hold the taxpayers to ransom. The current public debt of the UK government is some £1.4 trillion. 

The SDA proposes that Independent Scotland returns to full (100%) reserve banking, and that the Scottish government be the sole source of debt-free money. The new stand alone currency to be the Scots Pound managed by a Scottish Central Bank under the provisions in the Constitution of Scotland.

Full reserve banking means a return to bank lending being restricted to the funds and investments lodged with them for this purpose. Current practice, the fractional reserve system, allows banks to lend out to ten times their capital and reserves - hence the instability and references to "money from thin air".

Focus on the Economy: The UK is too big and it's government too removed from Scotland to effectively respond to the ever shifting needs Scottish business face in the global marketplace. Scotland needs a lean, business-aware government and a lot less red tape.

Security and Defence: At present Scotland contributes some 9.4 per cent of the UK tax revenues, yet Scotland's share of the UK defence expenditure is less than 22 per cent of our equivalent share by population numbers. Scotland is well able to afford a balanced Scottish Defence Force, both to defend our own territory and to meet our international humanitarian responsibilities as a member of the United Nations and in a partnership for peace relationship with NATO.  We can generate employment by building our own navy and equipping our defence forces whilst maintaining our security and defence assets here in Scotland.

Scotland in Europe: We are resolutely pro European in that we have much in common with our neighbours. We see the ideal situation to be part of Europe through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as opposed to the European Union. Ultimately, though this is a matter for the people to decide themselves through a referendum.

 

Care to learn more?  Then read the attached PDF file:

The Future Governance of Scotland - an SDA Perspective