‘Yes’ vote would end Scots poverty

By Mark Mclaughlin
Published on 25/07/2012 00:00

A VOTE for Scottish independence would “effectively eliminate poverty from our society”, an SNP Cabinet secretary has claimed.

First Minister Alex Salmond has also suggested that Scotland will not be “independent in a pure sense” even if Scots vote Yes in the independence referendum.

Infrastructure secretary Alex Neil told a public gathering of the Scottish Cabinet in Skye yesterday: “If we were independent and could manage our own resources in our own way not only would we get much higher levels of employment among younger people and indeed older people, but we could do what every Scandinavian country has done and effectively eliminate poverty from our society.”

Labour’s Patricia Ferguson said: “He is treating the people like fools. Poverty won’t be abolished by erecting a border at Gretna.”