Scotland’s future is now in Scotland’s hands, Alex Salmond declared yesterday.
The first minister was speaking at an international press conference in Glasgow to launch the Scottish Government’s long-awaited white paper on independence.
The SNP leader claimed it was the most comprehensive blueprint ever published and set out a “mission statement” for the kind of country Scotland could be in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum in September. Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland offers what the government describes as a “transformational vision of work and social policy with a revolution in childcare at its heart”.
Divided into five parts, it answers 650 questions about the practicalities of independence, such as EU membership, currency arrangements, broadcasting and benefits.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP wanted to ensure all three and four-year-olds and vulnerable two year-olds were entitled to childcare – a policy which would help more women into work and provide up to 35,000 jobs.
But Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-union Better Together campaign, said the document failed to properly address key questions and it was a “fantasy” to claim Scotland could leave the UK but keep all the benefits.
“We have waited months for this and it has failed to give credible answers on fundamentally important questions,” he said.
“Instead of a credible and costed plan, we have a wish list of political promises without any answers on how Alex Salmond would pay for them.”
Mr Darling, a Labour MP and former chancellor, said the SNP government could deliver on its childcare policy now.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael described the paper as “a wish list with no price list”.
But Mr Salmond insisted the white paper put “beyond doubt” that an independent Scotland would start from a position of strength. “This is the most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published – not just for Scotland but for any prospective independent nation.”
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