United Kingdom has stifled Scottish economic development

All of the talk from Westminster (UK) at the moment is about how hopeless Scotland and the Scottish are and how it would not survive without its English masters. The attitude and vindictiveness towards Scotland is clearly seen by British Prime Minister David Cameron's covert meetings in London to try and influence business leaders to say they would leave Scotland if there was a Yes vote. Well Dave, with self proclaimed friends of Scotland like you around who needs enemies!

The truth, of course, is that the UK has been like a millstone around Scotland's neck for years. No better example is that of Scotland's oil. The wealth created by this resource has been squandered by successive UK governments, both Tory and Labour. If only Scotland had been independent then they could have been in the same position as Norway and invested in an oil fund that would have been of inestimable value to the Scottish economy.

Now we have the revelations that the British government actually prevented oil exploration of the oil fields in the lower Firth of Clyde. Their reason for this was because they did not want drilling rigs in the area because of the nuclear submarine base in the Clyde. As pointed out today by MSP (Member of Scottish Parliament) Michael Russell speaking in the West Scottish coastal town of Irvine (Scottish Gaelic: Irbhinn):

"Instead of relishing the opportunities of our vast natural resources on the lower Firth of Clyde, Westminster has lumbered us with the biggest collection of weapons of mass destruction in Western Europe. 

"With a Yes vote on Thursday we can get rid of these immoral weapons and focus our energies on building a sustainable and prosperous economy for the West coast.  The opportunity to tap into the oil reserves in the lower Firth of Clyde will transform local economies, particularly those situated along the Cowal peninsula and across the Isle of Bute, bringing much needed investment and job opportunities."

His MSP colleague, Kenneth Gibson said:

"An independent Scotland will have the power to generate a West coast oil bonanza. With over 40 years of experience in the North Sea, the industry will bring expert support to future exploration in the lower Firth of Clyde. Our local economies will at last share in the economic boom Westminster has shamelessly denied them for so long."

MSP Margaret Burgess, also speaking in Irvine summed it up perfectly:

"The truth is Westminster cannot be trusted to manage Scotland's natural resources.  Throughout this campaign we have heard a number of confessions from former senior UK government ministers who admit Scotland's oil potential has been covered up.  A Yes vote on Thursday is our one opportunity to harness the potential of our bountiful natural resources."