Scotland can learn from inspirational economies abroad to help it to become a global player, according to George Lyon MSP. The Liberal Democrat MSP for Argyll and Bute believes that Scotland should not be diverted by talk of independence and instead should learn the lessons from some of the strongest economies in the world.
Mr Lyon is calling for Scotland to look to California as the kind of economy it wants to model itself on and proposing ways that home grown Scottish talent can seek inspiration on growth and development by working in partnership with Californian businesses.
My Lyon is putting the proposal to the Scottish Liberal Democrats for consideration in their 2007 Scottish election manifesto.
In a statement George Lyon said:
George Lyon MSP
"The sixth largest economy in the world exists within a united federation. It is an international leader in high tech business solutions, creative industries, financial services, agriculture and in ambition for a sustainable future.
“This economy is California.
“While the SNP cite the Isle of Man as their ambition for the economic future of Scotland, the Scottish Liberal Democrats would cite California. Californians don’t need independence from the USA to deliver economic growth and neither does Scotland.
“Scottish business doesn’t want the uncertainty of Alex Salmond’s separate state. They do want a thriving, ambitious economy.
“Scotland clearly has the potential to learn from California in the kinds of industries that we want to see growing and developing and in becoming a sustainable, high growth economy.
“By giving Scottish business more routes to learn from and trade with the most successful economies we can ultimately help Scotland to become a truly global player.
“One of the ways we can tap that reserve of experience and ambition is to encourage businesses in Scotland to twin with those of the high growth sectors in California. We could achieve this with Scotland’s Chambers of Commerce fostering strong links with the Chambers of Commerce in the towns and cities of California and enabling those business partnerships.
“California also gives an example of a strong federal state that has the right powers to deliver economic growth and environmental sustainability within the United States.
“There is no movement for California to become a separate state as they have the distinctive powers, policies and identity they need to achieve growth but also have all the benefit and clout of the United States behind them.
“Scotland doesn’t need all the uncertainties and negative rhetoric of separation. The strongest economies of the world are ones that have a federation of strong states within them – the United States; Germany; Australia; Canada. Scotland can learn from those strong states.
“When speaking to business people in Scotland, they agree that Scotland’s Parliament needs more powers to achieve greater economic prowess. It is crucial that we in Scotland are able to put our hands on the fiscal levers necessary to influence the direction of the Scottish economy. This does not mean independence with all the uncertainty and upheaval that comes with it. It means new fiscal powers for Scotland, learning from the best examples around the world, delivered within a strong United Kingdom.”
