Dividing the colonies to extract the oil

The new revelations contained in the Times contain more than a whiff of the 'divide and rule' mentality. It's absolutely extraordinary that a proposal could seriously be floated in Whitehall to stoke up independence movements in Orkey and Shetland in order to redraw maritime boundaries all the better for London to take in North Sea oil revenues.

The tone of the proposals and the fact they could even be aired displays once again the utter contempt in which Scotland has been held by successive London governments. Scotland is seen as nothing short of a cash cow, only for us to be further mocked by being told that we’re too poor to be independent. In reality, they knew back then that had we been independent, we’d be running ‘chronic surpluses to a quite embarrassing degree’.

This is no small matter. These deceits have meant that where we could have invested in our national public infrastructure with substantial oil revenues for thirty years, we’ve instead got some of the poorest areas in Western Europe. We could be infinitely better off right now, and it is making Scots angry. 

A sensible and long term policy on the oil wealth could also made us into one of the world's major players. Just look at the statistics which put Norway's oil windfall fund as the third largest in the world - bigger than Kuwait and Suadi Arabia's to name two famous oil producing countries. 

It's not just a case of what we could have been - it's what we still can be too. There’s estimated to still be around 30billion barrels still under the North Sea, with around 40billion extracted so far. It's up to us - if we get a chance to vote on it next year.

Comments

[Thurso]

So you are in favour of an oil based economy with the associated environmental concerns? I would also appreciate information on the SNPs solution for the handling and disposal of waste with enhanced level s of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), an unwanted by-product of oil & gas production, and NORM contaminated equipment? As oilfields mature and the amount of produced water increases, so does the level of NORM – will that be permitted to be disposed of in Scotland? If so where?