Edinburgh's Success In Cities Outlook Highlights Scots Potential

Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi has today highlighted the opportunities and potential of a Yes vote following the publication of The Cities Outlook 2014 report showing Edinburgh is the fastest growing city across the countries of the UK outside of London.

The report highlights the damaging aspect of London’s hyper-growth at the expense of other cities, warning: ‘The UK is one of the most centralised countries in the developed world.’

Commenting, Mr Biagi, Edinburgh Central MSP, said:

"This report highlights what we already know – Edinburgh is a very successful city. Scotland’s capital can do even better with a Yes vote and independence when the powers to make decisions that always put Scotland first can be made all of the time.

"Aberdeen is also in the top 10 cities and Scotland is punching above its weight – thanks largely to the Scottish Government’s drive to create jobs and boost the economy - but the threat from the London-centric policies of the Westminster system remain.

"And problems of deprivation are still prevalent in modern Scotland - we are a wealthy country, in the top ten of OECD countries in economic output per head - yet the wealth of Scotland is not working for the people of Scotland. Only a Yes vote can change that.

"The danger from an over-inflated London has also been raised by economic experts and even by Tory/Lib Dem coalition government ministers.

"UK Business Secretary Vince Cable admitted that London was becoming a ‘giant suction machine sucking the life blood out of the rest of the country’.

“Professor Tony Travers of London School of Economics described London as ‘the dark star of the economy,’ warning it was ‘inexorably sucking in resources, people and energy. Nobody knows how to control it’.

"Under devolution, Scotland only controls 7 per cent of all the revenue raised here - independence means 100 per cent financial control.

"Only a YES vote will deliver the fiscal and economic powers of independence. An independent Scotland can and will take a very different approach from Westminster austerity - and do more to strengthen our economy, boost our exports and create jobs."