First minister in ‘car crash’ TV interview on independence

Sturgeon stumbles when pressed on vital question of cost

Nicola Sturgeon could not say how much independence would cost in an interview branded a “car crash” by opponents.

On the eve of her speech to SNP conference, Ms Sturgeon was repeatedly asked for the sum before admitting she “can’t recall the exact figure” quoted in the new independence blueprint.

Ms Sturgeon is expected to call for Holyrood to get powers over immigration to save Scotland from the Conservatives’ “hostile” approach to migrants in her address in Aberdeen today.

And the SNP leader will announce a new £150 million infrastructure fund, which she says will support the construction of at least 3,000 new homes.

In a Channel 4 interview aired last night, Ms Sturgeon was asked several times to recall the figure for the set-up costs of an independent Scotland, which was published in last month’s Growth Commission study.

On the fifth inquiry, she was asked: “Do you know the figure in the report?”

The first minister replied: “I can’t recall the exact figure in the report.”

The correct sum is £450m over five years, as outlined by Professor Patrick Dunleavy, from the London School of Economics, in the 354-page Growth Commission study.

That is based on establishing four departments covering defence, foreign affairs, trade, security and intelligence, as well as a central bank.

A Scottish Conservatives spokesman said: “This is where the SNP’s broken case for independence lies: with Nicola Sturgeon unable to remember fantasy figures for set-up costs from a report she still insists is credible. “What an embarrassment. “No wonder pro-independence supporters as well as pro-Union backers are running a mile from her independence blueprint. “Everyone can see it doesn’t add up.” Aberdeen councillor Freddie John, for the Tories, described the interview as a “car crash”.

Ms Sturgeon’s speech to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre comes in the days after Ms Sturgeon relaunched the SNP campaign to convince Scots to back independence.

And the long-running “power grab” row between the UK and Scottish administrations over returning Brussels competences is to come to a head next week.

There is still no agreement between the governments despite the final votes on the Withdrawal Bill taking place in the Commons on Tuesday.

Ms Sturgeon will say today: “Westminster’s hostile environment to migration is not just a slogan. It has a real impact on our public services and our economy.

“It’s time for powers over migration to come to Scotland,” she will add.