Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli is credited with coining the phrase that there are three kinds of lies: “lies, damned lies, and statistics”.
His use of the phrase predates the introduction of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) bulletin by around a century – but even today there is no better way to describe the figures, seen as Scotland’s economic “school report card”.
The latest GERS bulletin, released earlier this month, showed that Scotland’s public spending was almost £15billion more than its tax revenue in the last financial year.
It showed that the amount spent per head was £1,400 per person higher than the UK figure and that Scotland’s deficit ran to almost 10% of Scotland’s output – nearly double the level for the UK as a whole.
With headline figures like that, some are quick to forget the origins and purpose of the GERS bulletin.
Formally introduced in 1992 by the then Scottish Secretary Ian Lang, it was a political initiative from the outset.
It was designed – as the minister acknowledged in a leaked document – to “undermine” the UK government’s rivals and demonstrate to the public that devolved self-government was bad.
Since then, it has been “hoofed” more times than any other political football – with the most recent edition being no different.
Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour leader, said the figures showed “the devastating impact” that leaving the UK would have had on Scotland’s finances.
Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said the SNP’s economic credibility had been “smashed to smithereens” by the figures.
But has it occurred to them to question why, given the economic advantages we enjoy, does Scotland have a financial deficit greater than any other independent European nation of similar size?
What country wouldn’t want a national drink which generates £4billion towards the balance of trade and around £1billion in taxes?
Scotch whisky accounts for a quarter of the UK’s food and drink exports – and drams from these shores are enjoyed in 200 different countries.
What country wouldn’t want an online gaming industry which has grown over 600% in recent years?
Scottish gaming studios include global successes Rock Star North, producers of the Grand Theft Auto series, and 4J Studios, who are involved in the production of Minecraft.
Dundee is the hub of game design in the country, with about a third of the industry’s companies based there.
What country wouldn’t want our tidal and wave energy potential?
And need I mention the many billion barrels of oil which lie in our North Sea?
I could go on and on.
These GERS figures are not an indictment of Scotland’s economic potential – it’s an indictment of the way that large parts of Scotland’s economy are being run.
Norway is far more reliant on oil than Scotland, but it can increase investment to stimulate growth and save jobs by investing from its oil fund.
UK Government tax breaks to oil companies led to a loss in tax revenue doubling the impact of oil price falls on Scotland’s balance sheet.
My point is this – regardless of your politics, talking down Scotland is in none of our interests.
This is a vibrant country with industries that other nations would give their eye teeth to have.
Let’s not tell the world we are too wee and too poor, because that most certainly is “damned lies”.
