‘Post-independence Scotland would prosper, despite GERS’ says Mackay
Scotland would have a “prosperous and fairer society” after independence, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has told MSPS.
But the prospect of a fresh vote on leaving the UK – currently being considered by Nicola Sturgeon – came under fire from opposition MSPS who said it would lead to a fresh wave of austerity cuts.
Mr Mackay was defending Scotland’s economic strength at Holyrood yesterday as he faced a grilling over the recent Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report last month which laid out a £13.4 billion shortfall in Scotland in 201718 between public spending
and taxes raised to pay for them. Mr Mackay: “If we had the full levers of independence we would be able to stimulate our economy even further and have a more prosperous and fairer society.”
The finance secretary said the £13.4bn deficit was only a “notional” figure and the prod- uct of the “current constitutional position, not Scottish independence.”
But Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said the GERS figures show the “reckless folly” which would come about with independence.
“What the GERS figures tell us is that the union dividend in Scotland in Scotland now amounts to £1,882 for every man woman and child which leads to record higher public spending per capita in Scotland of £1,576,” Mr Fraser said.
“That’s spending more than the UK average on schools and hospitals – on all the things that matter to us.
“It would be reckless folly to put these fiscal transfers from the rest of the UK at risk by pursuing a policy of Scottish separation.”