Economic think tank Fiscal
Affairs Scotland draws the conclusion after analysing oil and debt figures
produced by both the UK and Scottish Governments.
Scotland is far likelier
to be worse off as a separate country, according to an impartial analysis
published today as the man who hired Fred Goodwin at RBS accused Westminster of
scaremongering over the country’s banks.
Fiscal Affairs Scotland
said the wide range of estimates for oil revenue and national debt provided by
the UK and Scottish Governments made it impossible to predict exactly what
would happen following a Yes vote.
But
the economic think tank said that for Scotland to be wealthier, it would have
to strike a deal with Westminster to repay only half of its population share of
the UK’s national debt while receiving almost twice the predicted income from
the North Sea.
If
Scotland inherited its full population share of the UK’s national debt, as
expected, then oil revenues would have to meet the First Minister’s most
optimistic possible forecast if it was not to be poorer.
The
analysis was conducted in the wake of the Treasury’s claim the Union is worth
£1,400 annually for every Scot, while Mr Salmond claimed independence could be
worth £1,000 per person after 15 years.
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Reading:
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Salmond's borrowing plans 'prove currency union won't happen'
“Fiscal Affairs
Scotland’s independent analysis
demonstrates again that the Scottish Government’s fantasy figures do not stand
up to scrutiny. A separate Scotland means
higher taxes and less money to spend on vital public services.”
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