Wealth does not 'trickle down' – we need a wellbeing economy

The National

27-06-2025

As things stand, the UK economy has been following a 'neo-liberal' approach for many years – with privatisations, deregulation, globalisation, and prioritising government spending to stimulate the private sector at the expense of public services.
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When Western governments bailed out the banks following the 2007 crash, the rich didn't take the hit. Shareholders were saved – and the ordinary people of the country got stagnant wages, austerity, in-work poverty, and a state pension that falls far below the 'wellbeing pension' sum of £241.50/week – the figure calculated by the Wellbeing Pension Campaign as the amount required to cover pensioners' basic costs of living.
A wellbeing economy is one that recognises that, contrary to promises, wealth doesn't trickle down – it is created when society offers access to opportunity and wellbeing for everyone. A society that doesn't only measure its 'wealth' in economic growth as measured by GDP, but which gives equal weight to measures for quality of life, equality, fairness, happiness and health. It isn't only pensioners who should be able to heat their homes comfortably – everyone should be able to do that, without having to do without other measures that contribute to our quality of life.
The choice for Scotland is between 'more of the same', or working with other wellbeing economy governments in reshaping our economy to deliver a just transition to a net zero, nature-positive economy based on the principles of resilience, equality and prosperity for all. Comments following the presentation included: 'I was well impressed with what was said and the delivery'; 'This is the way forward for our country'; and 'We certainly left feeling far more optimistic about Scotland's future than we had been'.
Ian Waugh
Dumfries & Galloway Indy Hub
THE public and political silence about the Liberation journey to the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations has been quite deafening but the Yes movement's references to it are becoming more frequent. What is going on behind the scenes? I would like to know what the Scottish legal establishment made of Professor Robert Black's speech titled 'For England. Nothing Changed'.
But one thing is certain – the political leadership of all Scottish independence parties need to keep up to speed or they will be in danger of being bypassed by political events.
READ MORE: No changes to council tax 'in this decade', says Scottish Government
In Scotland we have been at the mercy of the most accomplished propaganda machine in the world. On the issue of the Treaty and Acts of Union in 1707 and 1708,we have all been forced into one narrow road which takes us to the endpoint of belief in a Union of equal partnership while being forced into many positions and actions which we do not support, but accept in the belief of Westminster authority and the 'United Kingdom'.
Sara Salyers and her Liberation team have changed all that. Craig Murray, as Liberation's acting Scottish ambassador, has assured us of a warm welcome at the UN and has received declarations of interest by several major bodies such as the African Union.
If it is found at the UN Decolonisation Committee that in fact there is no such thing as the UK then that will pose problems for the membership of the Security Council, for example.
We must have a developed strategy for what our next Scottish step will be to confirm our sovereignty and recover our Scottish parliamentary authority. The actions of the last two Westminster governments have found little support among the Scottish population.
It is clear from the letters pages of our Scottish newspapers that there is serious dissatisfaction with the current situation.
Maggie Chetty
Glasgow
I HAVE been a friend and supporter of Craig Murray since his return to Scotland after being sacked by a Labour foreign secretary for exposing torture in Uzbekistan when ambassador there. Since then Craig has devoted himself to the cause of Scottish independence as well as being a fine journalist and has proved fearless, whether in front of Scottish judges or Israeli drones! Despite this, a secret Alba committee has refused him the
right to be considered as a candidate for Alba for next year's Scottish Parliament elections. I believe this is a mistaken decision and should be reversed.
READ MORE: Craig Murray: Alba blocked my Scottish Parliament 2026 bid
The reason for excluding Craig is that he stood for the Workers Party in last year's General Election. Yet Craig did so with Alex Salmond's approval. I know because I talked to Alex and he told me that Craig had his full support and would be a very important voice for Scotland in Westminster.
I was approved as an Alba candidate last year but in solidarity with Craig decided not to put myself forward as a candidate this year. I am calling for Alba's conference in October to reverse this decision and allow Craig to be an Alba candidate next year.
Hugh Kerr
Edinburgh