Letter: Small can work

Published on Monday 4 October 2010 16:42

There is something unedifying in the gloating about Ireland's economic troubles by Scottish Labour, used of course as a means to highlight the fate that will befall an independent Scotland. The negativity is something that pervades political debate in Scotland from those unionist parties who see Scotland as too small and too weak to survive without the supportive might of the British state.

The downturn in fortunes for Ireland and Iceland is used to prove that small, independent countries can't succeed. What it disregards, however, are the facts.

Ireland and Iceland remain above the UK in terms of GDP per capita, according to the IMF. The richest country on Earth by miles is Qatar, population 1.3 million. Second place is Luxembourg, with a population of 500,000, and in third is Norway, with a population of 4.9 million.

To be fair, the UK does eventually feature in 20th place, immediately after mighty Belgium. Despite its lowly ranking, we should have full confidence that the UK is economically viable. All that should be asked in return is that it is accepted that there are lots of small nations which are beacons of success, just as there are large nations struggling. None of that tells us whether Scotland should be independent; simply that it readily and sustainably could be.

Alex Orr

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh