Stirling is losing out on £3,842 from its GDP as a result of being part of the United Kingdom when production is compared with Scotland’s neighbours in north west Europe.
New research by the House of Commons Library shows the UK’s GDP is 12% lower than the average in north west Europe, making it worse off than countries such as Ireland, Finland and Denmark.
Currently, Stirling produces £30,912 but applying the 12% GDP gap, it could be producing £35,754 if Scotland was an independent country capable of fulfilling its potential like other small European nations.
Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed said:
‘These stats are a damning indictment of Scotland’s position within the UK and just like Stirling, every local authority in Scotland has a lower production level compared with countries in North West Europe that are of a similar population size to Scotland.
‘Councils across Scotland, including Stirling, are being held back by the UK and these stats demonstrate that. The only way Scotland can realise its full potential is by becoming an independent country.
‘As small independent countries continue to flourish, Scotland cannot be left behind. We cannot trust the Tories to protect Scotland, the only way to do that is by becoming an independent country.’
1. Difference in GDP between the UK and the average for north west Europe in 2019 from House of Commons Library calculation of GDP at PPP converted to Sterling:
| UK | NW Europe | Difference | % Difference | |
| 2019 GDP | £31,849 | £35,807 | +£3,958 | +12.4% |
2. 12.4% difference applied to Stirling council’s GDP figures from latest ONS figures for GDP at a local authority level (Table 7) – provisional figures for 2019:
| Local Authority | 2019 Provisional Estimate (GDP) | Estimate reflecting average for NW Europe (NEW GDP) | Difference (CASH) |
| Aberdeen City | £49,088 | £55,188 | +£6,100 |
| Aberdeenshire | £30,478 | £34,266 | +£3,788 |
| Angus | £21,534 | £24,210 | +£2,676 |
| Argyll and Bute | £26,014 | £29,247 | +£3,233 |
| City of Edinburgh | £49,602 | £55,766 | +£6,164 |
| Clackmannanshire | £24,104 | £27,099 | +£2,995 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | £28,137 | £31,634 | +£3,497 |
| Dundee City | £26,961 | £30,312 | +£3,351 |
| East Ayrshire | £18,997 | £21,358 | +£2,361 |
| East Dunbartonshire | £16,961 | £19,069 | +£2,108 |
| East Lothian | £20,624 | £23,187 | +£2,563 |
| East Renfrewshire | £14,959 | £16,818 | +£1,859 |
| Falkirk | £28,538 | £32,085 | +£3,547 |
| Fife | £23,119 | £25,992 | +£2,873 |
| Glasgow City | £38,772 | £43,590 | +£4,818 |
| Highland | £30,563 | £34,361 | +£3,798 |
| Inverclyde | £19,400 | £21,811 | +£2,411 |
| Midlothian | £21,130 | £23,756 | +£2,626 |
| Moray | £25,538 | £28,712 | +£3,174 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | £24,115 | £27,112 | +£2,997 |
| North Ayrshire | £20,102 | £22,600 | +£2,498 |
| North Lanarkshire | £27,501 | £30,919 | +£3,418 |
| Orkney Islands | £28,111 | £31,604 | +£3,493 |
| Perth and Kinross | £32,916 | £37,007 | +£4,091 |
| Renfrewshire | £29,508 | £33,175 | +£3,667 |
| Scottish Borders | £24,297 | £27,316 | +£3,019 |
| Shetland Islands | £35,903 | £40,365 | +£4,462 |
| South Ayrshire | £25,910 | £29,130 | +£3,220 |
| South Lanarkshire | £25,004 | £28,111 | +£3,107 |
| Stirling | £30,912 | £34,754 | +£3,842 |
| West Dunbartonshire | £24,640 | £27,702 | +£3,062 |
| West Lothian | £30,215 | £33,970 | +£3,755 |
3. Estimate for Greater Glasgow to reflect overall figures covering East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire:
| Population | GDP (£m) | GDP per capita (£) | Estimate reflecting average for NW Europe | Difference | |
| East Dunbartonshire | 108,640 | £1,843 | £16,961 | £19,069 | +£2,108 |
| East Renfrewshire | 95,530 | £1,429 | £14,959 | £16,818 | +£1,859 |
| Glasgow City | 633,120 | £24,547 | £38,772 | £43,590 | +£4,818 |
| Greater Glasgow | 837,290 | £27,819 | £33,225 | £37,354 | +£4,129 |
