Economy is too weak to break away, says SNP’s own expert

A PROPERTY tycoon – a leading member of an SNP taskforce – has said plans to break up the UK must be put on hold because of the sluggish economy.

Dan Macdonald, founder and chief executive of Macdonald Estates, said independence was not feasible while economic growth was negligible.

A ‘growth commission’ panel of 14 experts – set up in 201 – had been charged with devising a blueprint for the economy of an independent Scotland.

Supporters hoped it would resolve long-standing problems such as currency, helping the separatists’ cause.

But Mr Macdonald, pictured, said he was ‘not interested’ in developing plans for independence while the economy was in the doldrums and a referendum would be unwinnable. It has also emerged the group’s favoured option for the currency of an independent Scotland would involve gradual moves to developing one over several years. In the meantime Scotland would keep the pound.

Mr Macdonald said: ‘We need plans for the economy over the next five to ten years, that is more important than any one issue, including the constitutional question – we need to build the economy first.’

He also dismissed SNP tax hikes as ‘twiddling at the knobs’ at a time when the priority should be bolstering growth.

An SNP spokesman said: ‘As set out from its inception, the commission’s work will inform our thinking in the here and now – how we sustain growth during the period of uncertainty caused by Brexit – but also examines projections for Scotland’s finances and proposals for growth in the context of independence.’