Quote Originally Posted by Getintaethem View Post
What are the estimates around the GERS figures that make a dent on the £15bn deficit? A deficit of £1.7bn is worrying but borrowing more is hardly the answer.

Scotland gets independence and we stop austerity. How, by borrowing more money and spend and we will be able to reduce the deficit and ultimately debt? Even if that had been proven to work, the EU would not allow it if we were ever to consider joining it. Secondly, our Government bonds would have junk status if we even considered borrowing to maintain our existing deficit when we are already running the largest deficit in the western world.

This is not me saying it. Moody's have said that Scotland would be facing a high fiscal imbalance that we would immediately need to deal with. What this means is less spending and higher taxes (the deficit is equivalent to £5,600 per year for every worker in Scotland so obviously higher taxes wont cut it on its own).

So get independence and get austerity max.

This is not like the uncertainty of what would happen after Brexit that we can all argue about. This is reality. This is why even some grandees in the SNP are saying this is the worst possible time to call for a referendum.
The Gers figures as you say and I agree aren't accurate they are a very poor estimates however in the next 5 years the UK debt could easily be £3T in the next few years at current levels.
Here's another thought the NHS is being run down so the Tories can put it out to not be fit for the purpose therefore needs to be funded by insurance policies paid by all.
Whether you agree or disagree with private healthcare it will be forced on Scotland as the NHS budget will be decimated