Crude plunges to 4-month low

OIL prices plummeted to a fourmonth low just as the Scottish Parliament was due to have a vote on a second independence referendum.

Brent crude slid 1.8pc to $50.05 a barrel yesterday morning with the figure casting fresh doubt on Scotland outside the UK.

The SNP made revenues from North Sea oil a priority before the 2014 vote but prices have fallen from over $100 a barrel due to a fall in demand and a price war.

Back in 2011-12, Scotland’s share of UK North Sea oil revenue stood at £9.6bn but this plunged to just £60m in 2015-16. The vote on the referendum was cancelled after the London terror attack.