Green Party says independence could bring banking benefits for businesses

The ideal of a jobs-rich, fair and flourishing economy was presented by the Scottish Green Party at its spring conference in Dundee on Saturday.

MSP Patrick Harvie made the call during a visit to Quartic Llama, a games development studio in the city.

He believed it and companies like it could thrive in an independent Scotland with a system of local banks with a more flexible attitude towards lending.

“The digital and creative industries provide a real opportunity for economic growth as we move away from the polluting-heavy industries of the last century, but they need help,” he said.

“They would benefit from a more diverse banking sector with national banks, local banks, credit unions and other lending organisations to help these new businesses to prosper.

“They have a far more diverse lending system in Germany and that is something we could create in an independent Scotland.”

Abertay University graduate Malath Abbas, co-founder of Quartic Llama in South Tay Street, said he was interested in the type of vision presented by the Scottish Greens.

“I see the benefits in a banking system where there is more choice,” he said.