A case for Shetland independence

I was struck by the figures quoted by Douglas Young (Independence is affordable; SN, 15/12/13).

He stated that Scotland pays over £1,700 per head in taxes into the UK Treasury. He makes no mention of what it gets back.

He may like to reflect that the net figure for Shetland is £5,059 per head of adult population.

In other words, even after we get back the breadcrumbs of any grants and subsidies, we are still paying around three times the Scottish average of tax alone – we provide about £8,600 per household for the government to spend on illegal wars, bank bailouts, MPs’ expenses and the black hole that is the EU.

Would that money not be better in the Shetland economy?

Douglas makes a good case for independence – Shetland independence.

Stuart Hill
Ocraquoy
Cunningsburgh