All the Countries I mentioned were part of the British empire and have done very well since they left and given the international nature of trade distance has nothing to do with it.As you rightly pointed out the Scottish economy does not appear to be doing very well but that’s because they are part of the union. You cant blame the present situation in Scotland on the Scottish government as they have no powers over Macro or micro economic levers.
What I find difficult to understand from a Brexiteer position is that it’s all very well to cry freedom against the “tyranny” of the EU not allowing the UK to be a free country but then denying Scotland the same rights to self determination within the UK. Is that not double standards
It’s also true to note that every other Nation/Region of the UK with the exception of Greater London are also in deficit due to the over centralised nature of the UK state.
Check the GDP per capita figures for Ireland and see that they have recovered from the Financial crisis far more successfully than the UK.
The Scots have a perfectly good reason to ask for another referendum because they were lied to by the UK. They were warned they would be thrown out of the EU if they became independent but would remain if still in the UK
The UK governments handling of the Covid crisis has resulted in this Country having the highest rate of mortality in the World per head of population. They do appear to have made a reasonable job with the vaccine but that is the exception to the rule in their handling of this crisis.
At the end of the day it is Scotland that should have the right to decide on its future particularly given Brexit and its implications. I have no doubt that they will make the right decision and become a successful free state.
I think that had the Scots been offered the same autonomy within the UK that the UK had within the EU that may have been adequate to assuage the desire for Independence but unfortunately that time has passed. There will be a new relationship between the Nations of these Islands whatever happens, of that I have no doubt.