A costly break-up

THE terrifying economic consequences of independence have been laid bare once again. A stark new report warns up to £8.5billion of tax rises – or cuts – would have to be imposed in Scotland if Britain were broken up.

According to the respected Institute for Government, an independent Scotland would ‘struggle to borrow much more than 3 per cent per year’ from international debt markets. Hyper-austerity would be required, or tax hikes on a massive scale, meaning ordinary families would pay a high price for the SNP’s reckless vision.

It would be an economic catastrophe – so why is Nicola Sturgeon still pushing for a second referendum?

In any sane political system, not a second of valuable time would be wasted on constitutional agitation while a devastating pandemic continues to claim lives.

Miss Sturgeon should level with voters that her separatist plan would bring about years, possibly decades, of financial pain for millions of hard-working Scots.

Better still, she should drop her obsession with tearing Scotland out of the UK – and focus on preventing a further deterioration in key public services.