Weak UK is a drag on Europe

Published on 10/06/2012 00:00

BILL Jamieson’s article “UK flirting with liaison dangereuse” (Business, 27 May) goes on at great length about the “Europe Crisis” and how the “Eurozone crisis” is affecting Britain.

While not denying that there are economic problems across Europe, is it not the case that just as the Eurozone problems affect Britain, the weakness of the British economy is a major drag on the whole of Europe?

Let’s look at some facts. In terms of growth rates 20 of the EU’s 27 countries are doing better than the UK. In terms of debt to GDP Britain is the sixth from the bottom of the 27 EU countries. In terms of unemployment nine of the other EU countries are doing better than Britain. Of our two near neighbours who are not in the EU, Norway has a growth rate of 1.1 per cent and unemployment of 3.2 per cent and Iceland has a growth rate of 1.9 per cent and unemployment of 7 per cent. Both Iceland and Norway have an income per capita vastly in excess of the UK.

Maybe Bill Jamieson or another commentator can tell us what is the advantage to Scotland of staying part of Britain.

George Leslie, Fenwick