Dear {name} Scotland's economy stands at a crossroads. The recent UK Budget has made our position starkly clear: we face increased taxes on working people, reduced investment, and austerity measures that will hit our communities hardest. Meanwhile, Westminster continues to treat Scotland as an afterthought. The evidence speaks for itself. Since 2007, Scotland's GDP per capita has grown by 10.2% compared to just 6.8% across the UK. Our productivity grows at 0.9% annually versus 0.3% for the UK as a whole. In 2024, Scotland attracted 135 foreign direct investment projects—outperforming the rest of the UK. Yet we're constrained by decisions made elsewhere. We cannot create a Scottish Visa to address our demographic needs. We cannot control immigration policy to support our NHS and care sector. We cannot set our own course when the Office for Budget Responsibility reports that the UK faces high interest rates, low investment, falling profitability, rising unemployment, and stagnant incomes. Independence offers a positive alternative. With control over our own economic levers, we can build policies that serve Scotland's specific needs—attracting the workers our economy requires, investing in our vital sectors, and ensuring our communities thrive rather than merely survive. Scotland has the resources, the talent, and the track record to succeed. What we lack is the power to fully harness them. It's time to choose a different path—one where Scotland's prosperity is determined by the people who live here, not by a Westminster government that consistently puts us last. Yours for Scotland, 
Martyn Day SNP Candidate for Falkirk East and Linlithgow PS - if you are enjoying these newsletters please pass them on to a friend or two. | 
