Student debate on Scottish independence held at Edinburgh University

A debate held by Edinburgh University Politics Society in early November posed the question “Would an independent Scotland be an economic success?” to members from the Edinburgh University Scottish Nationalist Assocation (EUSNA), the Edinburgh University Conservative and Unionist Association (EUCUA), and Northern Ireland Conservative Future.

An opinion poll taken before the debate found only 30 per cent of audience members believing an independent Scotland would be a success, whilst the same poll taken after the debate found that figure had risen to 67 per cent.

Fraser Dick from EUSNA began the debate by stating that the McCrone report, commissioned by the UK Government in the 1970’s to investigate North Sea oil, “had made such a credible case for Scottish independence” that it had been marked “Top Secret” for nearly 30 years.

EUCUA’s Andrew Walker-Smith responded that the UK Government “would not hand over ownership of the oil and gas fields” in the case of independence, and that it was not worth including in Scottish calculations.

Matthew Robinson from Northern Ireland Conservative Future added: “One of the key hypocrisies is that the SNP actually sit in the Green European grouping in the European Parliament, but actually advocate more and more levies on oil and gas production.”

EUSNA’s Euan Campbell said the claim of UK “ownership” of North Sea oil was incorrect, and that an independent Scotland would reclaim its share, continuing:
“What we could do with the money from the oil is create an oil fund, invest that in green energy, and then you’ve got that forever. That’s not going to run out.

“The argument is correct – you can’t base an economy on oil, but what you can do is, whilst you’ve got it, use the money to invest in the future. With 25 per cent of Europe’s renewable potential, Scotland could well sustain itself as a successful economic power.”

The debate later moved on to the subject of representation and mandate, with anti-independence speakers pointing out that more Scots had voted for Unionist parties in the last election than had voted SNP, creating a “majority Unionist mandate” in Scotland.

EUSNA replied that: “It doesn’t matter if every single person in Scotland votes Labour, SNP, or Lib Dem, if people in England vote Tory, that’s the government we’re landed with.”

An independence referendum will be held during the second half of the SNP’s term in government.