Scottish Currency Group Conference - 2025
The Scottish Currency Group Conference 2025 will be held at the new Carnegie Conference Centre at Fife College in Dunfermline on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October. Last year’s conference was our first in-person event and introduced our work on the new currency of Scotland to over 300 in-person and online delegates. Conference 2025 aims to build on that with two main themes.
Firstly, Prof Thiebault Laurentjoye (Aalborg University in Denmark) will present his Interim Report on “Currency & Policy Proposals for an Independent Scotland” in Saturday afternoon’s Keynote Address. He is an expert in Monetary and Exchange Rate Economics who was commissioned by the Welsh Independence Commission to research options for Wales in 2024.
His presentation will apply his Welsh methodology to the larger and more complex Scottish economy. In Wales he ruled out Sterlingisation as the worst possible choice. His presentation will focus on currency options, the currency transition, and exchange rate management. Prof Laurentjoye will be back to present his final report at the SCG Conference 2026. This final report will focus on what happens after Independence in terms of our fiscal balance (Government spending), the balance of payments (imports and exports), and the longer-term economic outlook.
Secondly, the SCG considers that the ‘Why’ of Independence is at least as important as the ‘How’. This essential issue has been neglected since 2014. Without a convincing narrative clearly demonstrating the many advantages which Independence will bring to the lives of people in Scotland, it is very hard to persuade them. Independence is a leap into a different future, so people must have the emotional commitment provided by hope and opportunity. Narrow technical discussions or a focus on process are insufficient.
We have, therefore, invited Party leaders and others in the Independence Movement to give us their ‘Vision for Independence’ with a focus on the economics. That is what happens after Independence Day. We hope our speakers will outline why that future can be better for the person in Easterhouse or Peterhead, Stranraer or Kirkwall. Having our own currency and full control of our monetary and fiscal policies are, in the SCG view, crucial to achieving those visions.
On Sunday, Kenny MacAskill, Alba Leader and former Justice Secretary, always an exciting speaker, will present his, and the Alba Party’s, Vision. Also on Sunday, the Scottish Energy Group will tell us why our abundant energy sources must be used within Scotland for our benefit, and not just sent down the wire to England or Germany. Cheaper and sustainable energy can ensure the re-industrialisation of Scotland. Energy intensive sectors, such as metal refining or AI Datacentres become possible. Social Media Influencer Kyle Renton will tell us about the key issues for the Under-35s, such as housing and well-paid employment, and ideas on solutions for the upcoming generation. Jonathon Shafi will outline the opportunities for radical change from the Left perspective.
Some more technical papers on Sunday see Peter Ryan tell us about developments in modern payments systems, while SCG speakers will discuss regulation and the creation of a National Pension Fund to provide an earnings-related pension in addition to an increased state pension.
The conference opens on Saturday morning with a welcome from myself as SCG Convener. Colin Fox, Party Leader, will give us the Scottish Socialist Party vision. That is followed by former MP Philippa Whitford on her Wellbeing Economy vision. Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp will tell us about the extensive work done by Believe in Scotland, while the Scotonomics think-tank will outline the problems with the Euro and the EU Fiscal Rules.
Also on Saturday, the Common Weal team of Robin McAlpine and Craig Dalzell will be discussing strategy and the specific issue of access to good quality sustainable and affordable housing. Professor Richard Murphy will discuss Money, what it is and is not, and how today’s monetary system of fiat currencies enables a currency-issuing Government with an understanding of how modern economies work to achieve ambitious outcomes which will benefit ordinary people in managing and overcoming their everyday challenges. This is the key to freeing Scotland from the false constraints of the ‘household analogy’, avoiding ‘Austerity’, and convincing people that a better future is possible with Independence.
Lunches and tea / coffee may be purchased. There will be a cash bar and finger buffet after the Keynote Saturday session.
A selection of Independence Groups will have stalls where you can buy their merchandise and find out more about their particular interests.
