SNP says EU membership could add £3,000 to each Scot’s income
The SNP claims that an independent Scotland rejoining the EU would give every resident a £3,000 annual boost, citing a Stanford economist’s estimate of Brexit’s cost to the UK.
The Scottish National Party asserts that an independent Scotland joining the European Union would provide an "independence dividend" of about £3,000 per person each year. The claim rests on research by Stanford economist Nick Bloom, who estimates that Brexit has stripped up to 8% of the United Kingdom’s GDP, translating to roughly £3,000 for each adult. SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said the numbers demonstrate how leaving the UK would benefit Scotland’s economy if it regained EU membership.
His remarks came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham outlined the criteria for a possible second independence referendum, prompting the SNP to highlight the financial incentive. Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats rejected the calculations as inaccurate and politically motivated. The debate continues as discussions about a legal mechanism for another referendum are underway.
Why it matters
The claim frames the independence debate around concrete economic benefits, influencing public opinion and political negotiations.
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