FAKE NEWS POISONS ELECTION

Independence debate marred by widespread belief in myths around finance

THE majority of independence supporters believe key annual figures which reveal Scotland’s deficit are ‘made up’ by Westminster.

With only days until the Holyrood election, a poll has found ‘widespread misunderstanding’ over economic facts.

The survey, commissioned by pro-Union think tank These Islands, also revealed confusion over the SNP’s plans for independence.

The Survation poll found that 57 per cent of independence supporters think that the Scottish Government’s annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) figures are ‘made up by Westminster to hide Scotland’s true wealth’.

And 90 per cent of those considered this false statement to be ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to their opinion on independence.

The latest Gers figures, published in August 2020, showed Scotland’s public spending deficit had risen by £2billion in one year to £15.1billion, or 8.6 per cent of GDP.

Overall, 30 per cent said they agreed that Gers were fabricated, while 30 per cent disagreed. The poll also found that 54 per cent of

‘The true scale of the fact-denial epidemic’

independence supporters agreed that ‘Scottish tax revenues are understated because of Scottish exports leaving via English ports’.

And, 66 per cent said they believed that ‘Scottish revenues are understated because taxes generated by the whisky industry are not properly allocated to Scotland’.

But according to the Scottish Government all exports – including whisky – which leave the UK via ports outside Scotland still count in the official figures as being Scottish.

These Islands said that overall there was ‘widespread misunderstanding about Scotland’s balance of tax and spending’.This included on how spending across the UK impacts Scotland, with 55 per cent of independence supporters agreeing that: ‘Scotland is only seen to be running a deficit because some costs outside of Scotland, like HS2 and infrastructure spending in the South-East, are charged to Scotland.’

Kevin Hague, chairman of These Islands, said: ‘This survey reveals for the first time the true scale of what amounts to a fact-denial epidemic in Scotland.

‘We have been tracking the spread of economic disinformation in the Scottish independence debate for some time now, but we are still shocked by these findings.

‘This survey should worry anybody who believes that sound democratic processes require a well informed electorate. It is clear many supporters of independence deny simple economic facts. That cannot be healthy for democracy.’

The survey also quizzed respondents on the SNP’s currency plan. It wants an independent Scotland to retain the pound before switching to a new currency. But 35 per cent did not know this, while 25 per cent believed the SNP wanted to ‘keep the pound indefinitely’. Just 17 per cent correctly identified the plan.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: ‘The reality is that Scotland is a wealthy country and, as the Institute for Fiscal Studies said, there is nothing to say Scotland cannot afford to be independent.

‘The election will present the people of Scotland with a choice, whether to put their future into the hands of Boris Johnson’s sleaze-ridden Tory government... or put their future into their own hands by re-electing Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister.’