Scottish independence: Greens launch ‘bold ideas’

A NEW campaign is to focus on how independence could allow Scotland to “pursue bold ideas”.

Patrick Harvie will launch the Jobs-rich, Fair and Flourishing: An Economy For All paper. Picture: Robert Perry

Green Yes, the Scottish Green Party’s campaign for a Yes vote in September’s referendum, is aiming to highlight how leaving the UK could help create jobs and boost emerging sectors of the economy.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie will unveil a new paper which argues the economic powers of independence could allow Scotland to create local banks to support lending, as well as a single regulator for micro-businesses in a bid to encourage entrepreneurs.

Mr Harvie will launch the Jobs-rich, Fair and Flourishing: An Economy For All paper during a visit to a games developer in the heart of Dundee’s digital business district.

The paper is the latest in a series from Green Yes, which was launched in November with a vision of a fairer Scotland.

Mr Harvie said the debate about Scotland’s future “provides an opportunity to ask what kind of economy we want”.

He added: “By taking full responsibility for the economy, Scotland could pursue bold ideas such as the creation of local banks to support lending and a single regulator for micro-businesses to encourage entrepreneurs. We could also invest in new technology to support growth in the creative sector.”