The Independence Debate is a structured examination of the constitutional, monetary, fiscal and institutional questions any independence process would have to answer. It covers the legal route to a referendum, the fiscal starting position, currency, nuclear basing, free movement and trade priorities. It does not assume independence would be easy or cost-free.
The Independence Debate
Border policy is where independence meets daily life. People cross the Scotland–England border constantly for work, family, education, and trade. A settlement that ignores that reality will fail in practice even if it succeeds on paper.
The Independence Debate
Scotland would seek continued access to UK and NATO procurement programmes where there is mutual benefit, while developing its own requirements and export opportunities.
The Independence Debate
A dedicated Scottish cyber and critical national infrastructure capability would be created to work closely with UK and NATO cyber centres.
The Independence Debate
Scotland would establish its own national security and intelligence service responsible for domestic security, counter-terrorism, and foreign intelligence relevant to Scottish interests.
The Independence Debate
Key military bases — including Faslane/Coulport, RAF Lossiemouth, and other significant sites — would be retained and, where strategically useful, expanded under the partnership model with the United Kingdom and NATO.
The Independence Debate
Scotland would maintain a professional, high-quality force sized appropriately for its population and strategic location — comparable in scale and ambition to Norway or Denmark.
The Independence Debate
Scotland would prioritise NATO membership and set its defence effort on a path to meet a 5% of GDP contribution level, consistent with the higher ambition now shaping Allied debate about the resources required for collective defence.
The Independence Debate
The nuclear basing arrangement would take the form of a formal, treaty-based, long-term agreement between Scotland and the United Kingdom
The Independence Debate
An independent Scotland would remain the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent at Faslane and Coulport under a long-term basing agreement.
The Independence Debate
Defence is where independence meets geography. Scotland sits on the northern flank of the Euro-Atlantic area, astride approaches to the North Atlantic and the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, with existing bases, industrial capacity and skills that already matter to UK and Alliance security.
The Independence Debate
A published, multi-year fiscal plan would set out the path from the opening deficit to a sustainable position. The plan would rely on a combination of economic growth, public-sector efficiency and prioritisation, and, where necessary, tax and spending adjustments.
The Independence Debate
An independent Scotland would control all major taxes—income tax, corporation tax, VAT, a National Insurance equivalent, capital taxes, and the remaining smaller taxes.