{{Short description|Term used by British unionists}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
The '''Union dividend''' is a term used by British unionists to describe the financial benefits which they believe that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland derive from being countries of the United Kingdom. Politicians who argue for the existence of a Union dividend include Tony Blair,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3638478/Wed-all-be-losers-if-the-Union-fell.html|title=We'd all be losers if the Union fell|last=Blair|first=Tony|date=16 March 2007|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=24 October 2010}}</ref> Gordon Brown,<ref>{{cite news|title=Labour seem determined to giftwrap the Scottish elections for the SNP|last=Macwhirter|first=Iain|date=1 April 2007|work=Sunday Herald}}</ref> Jim Murphy,<ref name="Cochrane">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/6241219/Downgrading-the-British-Armys-presence-in-Scotland-plays-into-the-nationalists-hands.html|title=Downgrading the British Army’s presence in Scotland plays into the nationalists’ hands|last=Cochrane|first=Alan|date=28 September 2009|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=24 October 2010}}</ref> Ian Davidson,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6659742.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920200520/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6659742.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2011|title=Fears over Clyde yards put aside as work begins on carriers|last=Macleod|first=Angus|date=7 July 2009|work=The Times|accessdate=24 October 2010}}</ref> Jack McConnell,<ref>{{cite news|title=McConnell rejects any constitutional tinkering and defends the 'union dividend'|last=Dinwoodie|first=Robbie|date=23 October 2006|work=The Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=we-achieve-more-and-are-stronger-together-rather-than-on-our-own-&method=full&objectid=18479266&siteid=66633-name_page.html|title=We achieve more and are stronger together rather than on our own|last=McConnell|first=Jack|date=16 January 2007|work=Daily Record|accessdate=24 October 2010}}</ref> Wendy Alexander,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wendyalexander.co.uk/speeches/the-case-for-union-ft-article/|title=The Case For Union|last=Alexander|first=Wendy|date=13 December 2007|work=Financial Times|accessdate=24 October 2010}}</ref> Iain Gray<ref name=Cochrane/> and Jackie Baillie.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8035556.stm|title=Nuclear sub fleet moved to Clyde|date=6 May 2009|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=24 October 2010}}</ref>
The idea saw increased discussion in the leadup to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. In May 2014, the UK Government said in an analysis paper that there was a "UK dividend" worth £1,400 to each person in Scotland.<ref name = "uk dividend">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27595415 |title=Scottish independence: Rivals both say Scots 'better off with us' |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=28 May 2014 |accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref> This estimate was mainly based upon there being higher public spending in Scotland.<ref name = "uk dividend"/> The Scottish Government said that Scots would be £1,000 better off by 2030 if Scotland became an independent state, due to greater productivity and higher tax revenues.<ref name = "uk dividend"/> The difference between the two figures was mainly due to differing forecasts of revenue from North Sea oil.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27608272 |title=Asking the experts: What are economists saying about indyref figures? |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=28 May 2014 |accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref>
==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Barnett formula *Block grant *Calman Commission *Economy of Scotland *Economy of Wales *Economy of Northern Ireland *Fiscal autonomy for Scotland *Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland *It's Scotland's oil *Scottish Consolidated Fund {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}{{Economy of Scotland}}{{Economy of Wales}}{{Scottish devolution}}{{Welsh devolution}} Category:Economy of Scotland Category:Economy of Wales Category:Political terminology in the United Kingdom Category:Politics of Northern Ireland Category:Politics of Scotland Category:Politics of Wales Category:Public finance of Scotland Category:Scottish Labour Category:Unionism in the United Kingdom