Economy is priority, not separation, says Treasury Secretary
THE UK Treasury has urged the SNP Government to end its damaging ‘obsession with independence’ in an attempt to rescue the Scottish economy.
The call comes only days before the annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures – expected to show a major spending black hole in what would have been the first year of Scottish independence – are due to be released.
When it published its White Paper on independence in November 2013, the Scottish Government made a series of forecasts for 2016-17 which were used as the starting point for tax and spending priorities – such as increased childcare, free elderly care and university tuition.
Now, for the first time, the public will be given an insight into how the country would actually have fared following a Yes vote in 2014.
Last year’s GERS figures showed the gap between Scotland’s public spending and tax revenues had widened, with the crash in global oil prices leading to a deficit of nearly £15 billion.
The figure represented a 9.5 per cent share of GDP – more than double the 4 per cent figure for the UK as a whole.
Writing exclusively for today’s Scottish Mail on Sunday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Elizabeth Truss, who grew up in Paisley, said: ‘Scotland has now reached a crucial stage in its devolution – where it can use the UK’s broad shoulders to its advantage, and at the same time make its own decisions on public services, tax and welfare.
‘It’s time for the SNP to put aside its obsession with independence and start acting like a responsible Government, focusing its efforts on securing a brighter future for Scotland’s young people, building a stronger economy fit for a global future.’
Scottish Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘If the SNP had its way, Scotland would by now be a separate country, and staring down the barrel of a gun financially. The crippling debts don’t bear thinking about.
‘We don’t know what the GERS figures will say, but other indicators show Scotland dodged a bullet thanks to the 2014 No vote.
‘With collapsing oil revenues, the whole UK can endure this shock. In contrast, an independent Scotland would have been utterly exposed to it.’
Alastair Cameron, director of campaign group Scotland in Union said: ‘Just three years ago, the Scottish Government asked the people of Scotland to take a risk on independence based on figures which were highly questionable.
‘This week, we will find out their forecasts were billions of pounds away from reality.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘Scotland’s economy remains resilient in the face of Tory austerity and a Tory government asleep at the wheel, determined to drive Scotland towards an extreme Brexit cliff edge.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The North Sea has a bright future for decades to come, with up to 20 billion barrels of oil and gas remaining, and there are encouraging signs that confidence is beginning to return to the sector after a number of challenging years.’
‘Dodged a bullet thanks to No vote’