This week saw the launch of the Scottish National Party's Summer Campaign when we publishedthe first in a series of policy papers illustrating the SNP's 'Best for Scotland' slogan,which will be the SNP's campaigning theme through to the General Election.

Over the summer months - leading up to our last Annual Conference before the GeneralElection - the Scottish National Party will be publishing a series of heavyweight policypapers, detailing how Independence and the SNP are 'Best for Scotland'. Addressing the keyareas of the constitution, the economy, housing, health, social welfare, education andEurope, the SNP will be spelling out how Scotland needs the powers of an independentParliament in order to restore democracy to our country, and generate economic prosperityand social justice.

Independence is best for all the people and communities of Scotland. More than any otherparty, the SNP are committed to a socially-just and inclusive Scotland, and this isreflected in our powerful policy programme.

The paper we published this week is entitled "Best for Scotland - A Real ScottishParliament" and explains how only an independent Parliament, embodying the sovereignty ofthe Scottish people, can restore Scottish democracy, generating economic prosperity andsocial justice.

Only an independent Parliament will have the power over social and economic policy needed tochange Scotland for the better. Only an independent Parliament, will have the power to:

introduce a written Constitution and Bill of Rights, guaranteeing fundamental rights andliberties to all the people of Scotland;

boost economic activity by creating lower business tax in Scotland than in England;

raise standards of social welfare by, for example, increasing pensions by £3 for a single person, and £5 for a married couple;

invest Scotland's growing North Sea revenues in the Scottish economy;

remove Trident nuclear weapons from Scotland, and get rid of the rotting Polaris submarines abandoned at Rosyth;

protect and promote Scottish interests in Europe, including our vital beef and fishingindustries.

Scotland needs the powers of a real Parliament - an independent Parliament - because only areal Parliament will be able to decide what is 'Best for Scotland', and take action in allof these vital areas.

Having ditched the sovereignty of the Scottish People and the foundation document of theConstitutional Convention - the 'Claim of Right' - signed by every Scottish Labour MP barone, Tony Blair and George Robertson have made it abundantly clear that Westminster wouldremain sovereign over their proposed Scottish assembly.

Labour's toothless assembly - now subject to a rigged referendum - would be nothing morethan a Westminster sub-committee. Without the sovereignty of an independent Parliament, anassembly would have no power to cut business tax, raise pensions, invest Scotland's NorthSea revenues, get rid of nuclear weapons, or speak up for Scotland in Europe.

Independence is 'Best for Scotland' - with devolution a poor and pitiful second best - andthat is a message the SNP will be putting before the Scottish people right through to theGeneral Election.

Andrew Welsh MP


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Andrew Welsh is the Member of Parliament for Angus East and Vice-President of the Scottish National Party.

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If you would like to know more about the SNP and HELP SCOTLAND contact snp.hq@snp.org.uk or visit the official the Scottish National Party web site.

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