Independence is affordable

To debate the financial position in relation to Scotland and independence you must give both sides of the argument in order to allow voters to make up their own minds.

Scotland is paying more in taxes into Westminster than the UK as a whole, currently over £1,700 per head.

So when your three correspondents (Better Together? Absolutely!; ASN 11/12/13) state Scotland receives around £1,200 more in government spending on average, the voters can readily see we pay in nearly £500 per head more each year.

It is an overpayment that has amounted to £64 billion during the last 32 years, money which would remain in Scotland with a Yes vote.

So there is no debate on whether Scotland can afford to be independent, even the Prime Minister agrees that point.

I leave the last word to Mr Cameron on the strength of an independent Scottish economy: “The United Kingdom would be less well off, both socially and economically, without Scotland in it” – October 2013.

There are so many inaccuracies in their letter we must leave them for another day.

Douglas Young
YES Shetland