# Scotland's Future > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Scotland's_Future > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Scotland's_Future.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland's_Future > Source revision: 1305791316 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|White paper published by the Scottish Government in 2013}} {{For|the 2022 Scottish Government series detailing a new case for independence|Building a New Scotland}} {{Infobox book |name = Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland |image = Scotlands Future.jpg |image_size = |caption = |alt = |author = |title_orig = |orig_lang_code = |title_working = |translator = |illustrator = |cover_artist = |country = [Scotland](/source/Scotland) |language = [English](/source/English_language) |series = |subject = |genre = |published = 26 November 2013 |media_type = |pages = 650 |awards = |isbn = 978-1494314545 |oclc = |dewey = |congress = |preceded_by = |followed_by = |wikisource = |exclude_cover = }} '''''Scotland's Future''''' is a government [white paper](/source/white_paper) published on 26 November 2013 by the [Scottish Government](/source/Scottish_Government) under [First Minister](/source/First_Minister_of_Scotland) [Alex Salmond](/source/Alex_Salmond). It lays out the case for [Scottish independence](/source/Scottish_independence) and the means through which [Scotland](/source/Scotland) would become an independent country in [personal union](/source/personal_union) with the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25088251|title=Scottish independence: Referendum White Paper unveiled|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)}} Salmond described it as the "most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published",{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25114249|title=Scottish independence: Holyrood to debate White Paper|date=27 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)}} and argued it shows his government seeks independence not "as an end in itself, but rather as a means to changing Scotland for the better".{{cite web|url=http://news.stv.tv/politics/250484-msps-asked-to-endorse-the-scottish-governments-white-paper-for-independece/|title=White Paper: MSPs asked to endorse the blueprint in Holyrood debate|date=27 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|publisher=[STV News](/source/STV_News)}} == Background and launch == The [Edinburgh Agreement](/source/Edinburgh_Agreement_(2012)){{mdash}}a document drawn up by the Governments of the [United Kingdom](/source/Government_of_the_United_Kingdom) and [Scotland](/source/Scottish_Government){{mdash}}set out the terms for a [referendum on Scottish independence](/source/2014_Scottish_independence_referendum), to be held on 18 September 2014. Subject to a Yes vote in this referendum, the Scottish Government said that Scotland would become independent on 24 March 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/scottish-independence-government-blueprint-vote |title=SNP outlines vision for Scottish independence - Channel 4 News |publisher=Channel 4 News |date=26 November 2013 |accessdate=5 December 2013}} ''Scotland's Future''{{mdash}}the white paper setting out a framework for an independent Scotland{{mdash}}was launched on 26 November 2013 at [Glasgow Science Centre](/source/Glasgow_Science_Centre), attracting journalists from "as far afield as [China](/source/China)".{{cite web|url=http://news.stv.tv/politics/250382-what-the-commentators-say-about-the-scottish-independence-white-paper/|title=What the commentators say about the Scottish independence White Paper|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|publisher=[STV News](/source/STV_News)}} [Deputy First Minister](/source/Deputy_First_Minister_of_Scotland) [Nicola Sturgeon](/source/Nicola_Sturgeon) later presented the document to the [Scottish Parliament](/source/Scottish_Parliament), making a statement in which she said it details "the opportunities of independence, the benefits for individuals, families, communities and the nation as a whole and the practicalities of how we move from a Yes vote in September next year to becoming an independent country in March 2016".{{cite web|url=http://news.scotland.gov.uk/Speeches-Briefings/Statement-by-the-Deputy-First-Minister-26-November-2013-6ae.aspx|title=Statement by the Deputy First Minister - 26 November 2013|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013}} == Overview == Titled '''''Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland''''', the 670-page document outlines the Scottish Government's vision of how Scotland would become an independent country, as well as setting out a series of policies that the Scottish National Party would pursue in the event that it were re-elected in the [2016 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2016_Scottish_Parliament_election). These include: *A new written constitution, which would retain the [British monarch](/source/monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom) as Head of State in a personal union *Scotland would keep the [pound](/source/pound_sterling) as part of a currency union with the UK, and take on a portion of the [UK's national debt](/source/United_Kingdom_national_debt) *Removal of [Trident nuclear weapons](/source/UK_Trident_programme) from Scotland within the first parliament *Employment legislation to help increase the female workforce, and 30 hours per week childcare for pre-school children *Creation of a 15,000 strong Scottish Defence Force, with a further 5,000 reservists, and a new national intelligence agency *Britons born and/or living in Scotland entitled to Scottish citizenship and Scottish passport *Abolition of housing benefit reforms introduced by the [Welfare Reform Act 2012](/source/Welfare_Reform_Act_2012) and reversal of plans to introduce [Universal Credit](/source/Universal_Credit) *Basic rate tax allowance, tax credit and minimum wage to rise in line with inflation *A state pension of £160 from April 2016, and review of UK government plans to raise the retirement age *Replace [BBC Scotland](/source/BBC_Scotland) with a Scottish Broadcasting Service (SBS) from 2017, but continue close ties with the BBC, including airing content such as ''[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)'' and ''[EastEnders](/source/EastEnders)''. The Scottish Broadcasting Service would also try to join the [European Broadcasting Union](/source/European_Broadcasting_Union) and therefore be able to compete in the [Eurovision Song Contest](/source/Eurovision_Song_Contest). *Renationalisation of the [Royal Mail](/source/Royal_Mail){{cite news|first1=Nicholas |last1=Watt |first2=Severin |last2=Carrell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/26/scottish-indpendence-fairer-prosperous-alex-salmond |title=Independent Scotland would keep sterling, says Alex Salmond |newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 November 2013 |accessdate=5 December 2013}}{{cite news|last=Ross |first=Jamie |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25416782 |work=BBC News |title=Scotland's referendum: Ten things we learned in 2013 |publisher=BBC |date=30 December 2013 |accessdate=30 December 2013}} The document also contains a 200-page section covering 650 questions on issues relating to independence.{{cite news|url=http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2013/11/the-scottish-government-launches-the-white-paper-on-independence/ |title=The Scottish Government launches the White Paper on Independence |newspaper=The Edinburgh Reporter |date=26 November 2013 |accessdate=5 December 2013}} == Response == The launch of the document was welcomed in principle by [Yes Scotland](/source/Yes_Scotland) chairman [Dennis Canavan](/source/Dennis_Canavan) and chief executive Blair Jenkins, and also by [Radical Independence Campaign](/source/Radical_Independence_Campaign) co-founder [Jonathon Shafi](/source/Jonathon_Shafi).{{cite web|url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0147/scotland-presented-with-independence-prospectus|title=Scotland presented with independence prospectus|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|publisher=The Targe}} [Scottish National Party](/source/Scottish_National_Party) (SNP) Member of Parliament (MP) [Angus Robertson](/source/Angus_Robertson) welcomed its defence commitments.{{cite web|url=http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2013/nov/welcome-white-paper-defence-commitments|title=Welcome for White Paper defence commitments|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|publisher=Scottish National Party|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131127135314/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2013/nov/welcome-white-paper-defence-commitments|archive-date=27 November 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} MSP [Joan McAlpine](/source/Joan_McAlpine) said that it made the [United States Declaration of Independence](/source/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence) "look like a Post-it note".{{cite news|author=BBC Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25112810 |work=BBC News |title=White Paper round up: Quotes, pictures and moments of the day |publisher=BBC |date=26 November 2013 |accessdate=5 December 2013}} Pat Rafferty, Scottish secretary of trade union [Unite](/source/Unite_the_Union), said the document offers "some welcome proposals", and that the union "[notes] with interest proposals for the establishment of a National Convention on Employment and Labour Relations which we hope reflects a long-term desire for a more pluralistic approach to employment relations from the Scottish government". However, he also said Unite will "[pursue] more detail on proposals for wider trade union-related legislation and the role of collective bargaining in re-balancing the future Scottish economy".{{cite web|url=http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/scotland/latestnews/unite-response-to-scottish-independence-white-paper-launch/|title=Unite response to Scottish Independence White Paper launch|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=8 December 2013}} It was criticised by a number of politicians and commentators. [Alistair Darling](/source/Alistair_Darling), chairman of [Better Together](/source/Better_Together_(campaign)), called it "a work of fiction" and "a wish-list of political promises". It was styled as "a compendium of existing assertions and a glossary of uncosted policies" by [Scottish Liberal Democrat](/source/Scottish_Liberal_Democrat) leader [Willie Rennie](/source/Willie_Rennie). [Scottish Labour](/source/Scottish_Labour_Party) leader [Johann Lamont](/source/Johann_Lamont) dismissed the document as "670 pages of assertion and uncertainty".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/scotland-25107344 |work=BBC News |title=Sturgeon says Scotland's Future now 'drives the debate' |publisher=BBC |date=26 November 2013 |accessdate=28 November 2013}}{{cite news|first=Robbie |last=Dinwoodie |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/salmond-gets-ball-rolling-as-opponents-put-the-boot-in.22802221 |title=Salmond gets ball rolling as opponents put the boot in |publisher=Newsquest |newspaper=The Herald |date=27 November 2013 |accessdate=28 November 2013 |url-access=subscription }} [Alex Massie](/source/Alex_Massie_(journalist)) suggested in a blog for ''[The Spectator](/source/The_Spectator)'' that its release was "designed to shift the [Overton Window](/source/Overton_Window)", and that "its publication nudges the argument forward and makes the idea of independence seem more real, more routine, than it was yesterday".{{cite magazine|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/alex-massie/2013/11/scottish-independence-is-a-little-more-likely-today-than-it-was-yesterday/|title=Scottish independence is a little more likely today than it was yesterday|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=27 November 2013|magazine=[The Spectator](/source/The_Spectator)}} Alison Rowat of ''[The Herald](/source/The_Herald_(Glasgow))'' called it "hopelessly dated in its view of women" and criticised the universal childcare pledge, pointing out that the Scottish Parliament already has the legislative capability to introduce the policy: "In pushing childcare as a game-changing idea, those behind the launch of ''Scotland's Future'' show zero appreciation of the basic political tactic of never promising anything you can already deliver."{{cite news|first=Alison |last=Rowat |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/scotlands-future-view-of-women-was-from-the-1950s.22820692 |title=Scotland's Future view of women was from the 1950s |publisher=Newsquest |newspaper=The Herald |date=29 November 2013 |accessdate=5 December 2013}} Conversely, an editorial in the ''[Sunday Herald](/source/Sunday_Herald)'' said that "every woman in Scotland should welcome the commitment".{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/at-last-a-real-chance-to-transform-childcare-in-scotland.22833022|title=At last ... a real chance to transform childcare in Scotland|date=1 December 2013|accessdate=8 December 2013}} ''[Bright Green](/source/Bright_Green)'' published an [infographic](/source/infographic) explaining why the policy was not feasible under devolution.{{cite web|url=http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2013/12/why-independence-makes-it-easier-to-fund-childcare/|title=Why independence makes it easier to fund childcare|date=4 December 2013|accessdate=8 December 2013}} On 7 December 2013, a discussion forum facilitated by the [Scottish Socialist Voice](/source/Scottish_Socialist_Voice) invited figures from the pro-independence left to respond to the document. The forum was chaired by [John Finnie](/source/John_Finnie) and featured [Jim Sillars](/source/Jim_Sillars), [John McAllion](/source/John_McAllion), [Isobel Lindsay](/source/Isobel_Lindsay), Prof Mike Danson, [Maggie Chapman](/source/Maggie_Chapman), and [Colin Fox](/source/Colin_Fox_(politician)) on its panel.{{cite web|url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0164/scottish-left-talks-independence-in-edinburgh|title=Scottish left talks independence in Edinburgh|date=8 December 2013|accessdate=8 December 2013|publisher=The Targe}} McAllion expressed concern over a lack of detail on the proposed "constitutional convention" that would write an independent Scotland's constitution, adding criticism of the [Scottish Constitutional Convention](/source/Scottish_Constitutional_Convention) that created the blueprint for [Scottish devolution](/source/Scottish_devolution).{{cite web|url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0165/ex-mp-scotland-in-trouble-if-lax-on-constitution|title=Ex-MP: Scotland 'in trouble' if lax on constitution|date=8 December 2013|accessdate=8 December 2013|publisher=The Targe}} == See also == * ''[The Case for an Independent Socialist Scotland](/source/The_Case_for_an_Independent_Socialist_Scotland)'' * [Building a New Scotland](/source/Building_a_New_Scotland) == References == {{Reflist|2}} == External links == *[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348 Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland] {{2014 Scottish independence referendum}} Category:Government reports Category:White papers Category:2013 in the United Kingdom Category:Scottish independence Category:2014 Scottish independence referendum Category:2013 documents --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Scotland's Future](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland's_Future) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland's_Future?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.