Independence means the people of Scotland acting through their own parliament and government under a constitution of their own, over which they have final authority. Independence will be brought about by the democratic choice of the people of Scotland, expressed through a referendum.

Independence in Europe means accepting the role and responsibilities of a Member State of the European Union, in which independent states have pooled certain of their sovereign rights for the common advantage. Sharing sovereignty in Europe in this way enhances Scotland’s sovereignty because it increases our influence. The SNP believes that Independence in Europe is the logical next step for Scotland to take on its road to becoming a normal, democratic, European nation, just like Denmark, Ireland or Luxembourg.

Scotland is an ancient nation, and its people have modern democratic rights. Independence is about controlling our own destiny for the benefit of all our people. Independence is normal for nations of Scotland’s size, and Independence is now necessary if Scotland is to achieve her potential in the world.

Devolution is a move in the right direction, and the SNP campaigned vigorously for a 'Yes Yes' vote in the 1997 referendum on the creation of the Scottish Parliament. However, devolution is not Independence.

• almost the whole of the taxation system
  That means Westminster still decides what you pay in income tax and VAT, and still receives the taxes paid by businesses in Scotland, including revenues from North Sea oil. Even using all the tax powers available to it, the Scottish Parliament only controls 5% of the taxes raised in Scotland.

• the Scottish Parliament’s income
  It’s Westminster, not Scotland, which decides the overall budget that the Scottish Parliament gets to spend on services like health, education, and law and order.

• social security and pensions
  The Scottish Parliament has no power to alter benefits or improve the state pension.

• broadcasting
  Scottish broadcasting – including even Gaelic broadcasting – is still regulated in Whitehall, not Edinburgh.

• Scotland’s relations with the EU and the rest of the world
  Scotland’s government has no voice in the world, and no place at Europe’s top table.

• defence
  Scotland and her Parliament have no say on defence issues, including the future or deployment of Scottish regiments, or over the fact that we are used as a base for nuclear weapons.

The Scottish Parliament is restricted by the Scotland Act 1998 from legislating on all these subjects, and many more besides. For instance, the Scottish Parliament can regulate the teaching profession, but not vets, and it can legislate on roads, but not on most aspects of the railways. Most bizarrely of all, it is allowed to legislate on vitamins B and C, but not vitamins A, D or E!

The Scottish Parliament has less power than practically any other legislative Parliament in Europe – devolved or independent – to decide how it raises its own income. Scotland has less control over its own affairs than Flanders, the Basque Country, or even the Isle of Man. In Scotland, Westminster still effectively decides what the Scottish Parliament’s budget will be for Scotland’s vital public services. Even a local authority like Edinburgh City Council is responsible for raising 27% of the revenue which it spends, but the Scottish Parliament has no such power. That means it operates with one hand effectively tied behind its back.