Charles Kennedy is one of a handful of politicians on the pro-UK side never to have put a foot wrong in the independence debate. Labour’s Kezia Dugdale, always passionate on feminism and social justice is another. Better Together could do a lot worse than leaving all the talking to them for the next 12 days.
On his own website, Charles has written a typically thoughtful article about Scotland’s energy needs, what we gain from being part of the UK and how independence would affect us.
Scotland benefits from exporting energy to the wider UK and EU markets with net exports to the UK ranging from 11% to 23% of Scottish generation between 2004 and 2012. In the event of Independence, the UK as Scotland’s largest energy market, would be free to import energy from cheaper sources as it would be in their national interest. Moreover, as part of the UK, Scotland is secure with its EU membership; this provides Scotland with a platform to freely export energy across the EU. Independence threatens that platform; an independent Scotland would face a difficult and drawn out process in reapplying for EU membership as pointed highlighted by the former President of the European Commission. Collectively this would damage the potential for a green energy hub here in the Highlands as Scotland’s exports would be at a competitive disadvantage.The cost of energy is ever present on people’s minds. Research led by the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Ed Davey MP, illustrates energy bills would be higher by at least £38 a year and potentially by up to £189, once the full cost of supporting renewables are included. The inescapable fact is that cross-subsidy in favour of peripheral areas can be carried a lot more easily within an economy of 60 million people than one of 5 million. The integrated single market is good for consumers in Scotland; the costs of transmitting electricity and gas and support for low carbon energy in Scotland are shared across the UK which reduces costs for Scottish consumers and enables investment so renewables can thrive in remote areas. Being part of a larger market also provides opportunities for greater competition, which helps place downward pressure on energy prices and drive up energy company performance. Incidentally, the UK Government has already announced changes to the Carbon Price Floor which is expected to reduce household bills by £15 and business bills by 3% in 2020.Finally, the SNP assert that an Independent Scotland would be a more sustainable country. I must challenge the premise of a sustainable future for an independent Scotland that is too heavily reliant on the volatile output of oil. Moreover, I fail to see how an independent Scotland could legitimately move away from the use of nuclear energy while maintaining a GB-wide energy grid; the reality is that with current UK investment in nuclear it would be nuclear itself that would have priority. Hitherto, if Scotland chooses to go it alone then the new state would instantaneously, in this context, cede power to manage its own energy mix to a foreign UK government. To change tack we need to stay together.Scotland, in particular the Highlands, has a proven track record where renewable energy is concerned. That is because we are in the UK. Together, Scotland secures the wider economic investment from the rest of the UK. Together, Scotland has a competitive platform to export energy to the UK and EU markets. Together, Scotland can tackle energy prices and build a sustainable future for the whole of the UK. Only by saying no thanks to independence can we achieve our collective ambition.
Photo of Loch Sloy hydro-electric scheme by Paul Walter
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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8 Comments
See Rupert Murdoch appears to be tweeting that the Times poll tonight is very good for the YES campaign. Are we on the wrong side? again….
A new YouGov poll of Scotland in tomorrow’s Sunday Times has YES nudging ahead in the referendum race. Courtesy of Tim Shipman at the Sunday Times, the topline figures excluding don’t knows are YES 51%(+4), NO 49%(-4).
This poll is desperately sad news for all of the UK. And particularly sad news for Scotland. They have no idea what a hideous genie they are letting out of the bottle in the form of nationalism.
Accommodation with a much larger, more powerful neighbour is never an easy business and in the last three hundred years the Scots have done so very well, with benefits for both sides. That they should choose to throw that all away on a false prospectus of being able to get everything they want and more in a new, independent relationship is quite incredible. They will not get any more than they do at present, and could end up with considerably less, once the dust has settled.
The nationalism attributed to the SNP is not the same as that understood south of the border. Personally, I should be pleased to see a stable and progessive state join the family of nations. The LDs were on the wrong side of this argument from the moment they rejected Alex Salmond’s offer of a coalition in the last Holyrood election. I wrote then that a liberal party espousing – in its constitution ! – support for the right for small nations to self determine, except, it seemed for Scotland, was toxic. Danny Alexander then bobbing up on tv to praise, err, Alistair Darling’s performance in the bbc debate with Salmond shows that nothing has been learned.
Still, even if Yes fails, the UK will be changed.
“The nationalism attributed to the SNP is not the same as that understood south of the border.”
Yes it is. It is just packaged and branded differently. But it’s got the same ingredients and has the same sour taste.
RC
This is a straight-forward question which I hope you will give your honest reply –
Do you want to restore London rule over Ireland, or Jamaica, or Cyprus, or Singapore ?
Or any of the many countries which have achieved independence in my lifetime?
If not why not?
Can I answer John Tilleys question; Yes I would love to see Ireland rejoin a Federal Britain. Perhaps we could have a joint Presidency/Monarchy with Citizens choosing allegiance to either or both ?
Jamaica should be looking towards a Carribean Federation & Cyprus could go foe a Union of Greece, Cyprus & Turkey. Those would be real steps forward.
Like perhaps a lot of people in the rest of the UK I’d be very sad if Scotland chooses to leave the UK, not least because of the nasty taste of nationalist anti-English populism which has accompanied the Yes campaign.
But here’s the thing – the rest of the UK hasn’t had any say in this (quite rightly) but if Scotland chooses to go independent I’d expect as a citizen of the remaining UK that we would get some say over the terms of leaving. Just as Alec Salmond is looking for the best deal for Scotland I would want the best deal for the rUK and I would expect us to use every tool at our disposal (e.g. our veto over Scottish EU membership) to get it.