Triple blow for Salmond – on finance, the EU and the NHS, Daily Express

ALEX Salmond was last night accused of trying to hoodwink Scots as his campaign to break up Britain suffered a series of damaging blows.

Critics said the SNP leader’s case for separation had stalled with just hours left until votes are cast in tomorrow’s referendum.

It came after a damning report warned an independent Scotland would collapse within a year if it kept the pound and walked away from its share of  the UK’s national debt.

Respected think-tank the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said that reneging would freeze the country out of the EU and international markets, triggering “unprecedented austerity”. Meanwhile, the Spanish government directly contradicted Mr Salmond’s claims by warning a breakaway country would be forced to wait at least five years to join the EU and then sign up to the euro.

And in a further blow to the First Minister a leaked report revealed hospitals faced a funding black hole of up to £450million in a separate nation despite his claims only a Yes vote can save the NHS.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “Today the SNP’s three main arguments on the NHS, EU and sterlingisation fell from under them.

“With only hours until the crucial vote, Alex Salmond has been caught out trying to hoodwink the people of Scotland.”

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Independence referendum: Nationalism's aim was to divide us from England but it's split us from ourselves

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