LONDON, September 3 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – The Scottish government could save £600m ( $1billion) a year by taking decisions different from Westminster, Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney has told RIA Novosti.
“The current Scottish Government has identified savings of around £600 million a year by taking different decisions from Westminster,” Swinney said.
“With independence any future government will have full control of Scotland’s finances - so never again will we be forced to fund policies that have been overwhelmingly rejected by people in Scotland,” Scottish Finance Secretary.
Dominic Frisby, who is a columnist with the investment magazine MoneyWeek has told RIA Novosti that unfounded fears over what currency Scots will use following Scottish independence will persuade many swing voters to back a No vote.
“People will say what is going to happen to the money in our bank account? What is going to happen to our business? That will be the thing that persuades most swing voters to vote in favour of staying in the union,” Frisby said.
The investment expert also added there was nothing to stop an independent Scotland from using the pound after independence even if Westminster objects.
“If Scotland wants to use the pound no one can stop it,” Frisby stated. “What the Scots won’t be able to do if they keep the pound is influence monetary policy. But how much influence the Scots have over monetary policy anyway is questionable.”
Postal ballots have been sent out and Scots will go to the polls on September 18. They will be asked one question “Should Scotland become an independent country?"
