SNP ‘misled public’ over its pledge to keep pound, papers show

SCOTTISH ministers were ‘actively misleading the public’ when they said Scotland could use the pound after independence, it has been claimed.

Secret documents drawn up before the 2014 referendum have been released which outline the Scottish Government’s economic plans for independence – including a Scottish Central Bank with the option of a separate currency.

It has also been claimed the papers show ministers ‘knew the EU would ruin’ plans to keep the pound if Scotland applied for membership.

Released under Freedom of Information laws, the documents were drawn up by civil servants three years ago and were not approved by ministers.

One potential problem highlighted by the civil servants was that keeping the pound, rather than committing to the Euro when seeking EU membership, would ‘depend on negotiations with the EU’. The documents also show that EU joining criteria states member states must have their own, independent, national central banks.

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser, pictured, said: ‘At the same time as Nicola Sturgeon was confidently preaching that we could keep the pound, she knew the EU could ruin those plans.

‘Now we have clear proof (the SNP) was actively misleading the public.’

But a spokesman for Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: ‘This material shows the thoroughness with which Scottish Government officials prepared for an independent Scotland ahead of the referendum.’