DOUGLAS Ross’s party has hit out at the Scottish Government for launching a new paper on the economic case for Scottish independence, calling it “pig in a poke”.
The Scottish Tories said there were details left out of the new document – like the timing of the move to a new currency – and described the move towards independence as a “sketchy, uncosted scheme”.
Nicola Sturgeon published the paper on Monday morning at Bute House, explaining how Scotland can build a “stronger, fairer and more sustainable” economy through independence.
The 108-page document laid out plans around currency, the Border and further details on a £20 billion capital fund to be set up after independence is achieved.
Until the currency is created, Scotland will continue to use sterling. In the paper, a number of economic tests must be met before the new currency is brought in, including that a new Scottish central bank would establish the “credibility” of the currency, creating sufficient reserves and Scotland being “fiscally sustainable” – as well as the Scottish Parliament approving the shift.
“Why don’t we put a particular time scale on that? Because we consider that would be not responsible,” the First Minister told the press conference.
She also said further information on how a border between Scotland and England would work is subject to negotiation with the UK Government.
But the Conservatives wanted those answers now and declared that it was “hard to see what the point” of the paper launch was without them.
“The SNP are still unable to provide details about how our currency would work, who would pay our pensions, and how we would cope with the potentially devastating effects of a hard border with the rest of the UK,” said economy spokesperson Liz Smith.
“Absurdly, they expect the Scottish public to vote on independence without any of these crucial questions being answered.
“The fact is that the SNP’s economic case for independence is as weak as ever – this is a lightweight SNP pamphlet dressed up as a glossy Scottish Government paper. These proposals would be a leap in the dark that would directly endanger jobs, wages, savings and investment.”
Meanwhile, the party’s leader Ross ignored the chaos at Westminster to insist that the document shows how “thin” the independence case is.
“It's completely the wrong priority at the worst possible time for Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon should be using government resources to help struggling families instead of to push for another divisive and unwanted referendum.”
Equally, Scottish Labour and the LibDems hit out at the Government following the publication of the paper.
Finance spokesman Daniel Johnson claimed the Scottish Government had “no answers to the key economic questions” of independence within the 108 pages, and Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton (below) said the plan was “a dangerous recipe for years of chaos”.
Introducing her paper on Monday, Sturgeon told reporters: “Fundamentally, we argue that a stronger, fairer, more sustainable economy is more possible for Scotland with independence, than it ever will be with Westminster control.
"By combining Scotland’s many economic strengths and abundant resources - particularly our vast renewable energy potential - with the policy levers that come with independence; an economic model built on social partnership and good, stable governance."
She went on: "In 2014, the choice before the Scottish people was framed by Westminster parties as the strength and stability of the UK on the one hand, and the uncertainty of independence on the other.
“The reality in the years since has been very different."
Independence parties more welcoming of document
As the Tories, Labour and LibDems hit out at the First Minister, there were more welcoming words from Yes-supporting parties in Scotland.
Maggie Chapman MSP, the Scottish Greens economy spokesperson said becoming independent would allow the country to put wellbeing, social and environmental justice at the centre of the economy.
“By expanding collective bargaining rights and ensuring that all workers are paid a real living wage we can build a fairer economy and tackle the appalling levels of poverty and inequality that are so prevalent," she said.
“But we can’t do these things when we have one hand tied behind our back by a vicious and incompetent Westminster government that is more concerned with its wealthy friends and donors.
She went on: "The vision presented in this paper includes many of the principles and policies that the Scottish Greens and the wider radical independence movement have been calling for.
“With the powers of independence we can deliver even more of the change that is so badly needed.”
And Neale Hanvey (below) of Alba, who have been very critical of the Scottish Government's approach to independence, said the publication suggested progress was being made.
“Alba welcome this paper which usefully sets out Scotland’s economic strengths and the massive potential to grow our economy and create a fairer society with the powers of independence," he said. "This stands in stark contrast with the evident weaknesses of the UK and of Scotland continuing to be part of a sinking ship.
“That should be the backcloth to an unanswerable economic case but this Scottish Government document still falls short in key points of policy detail.
“There is still some way for the Scottish Government to travel in distancing itself from all of the disastrous SNP Growth Commission proposals, including the bizarre ‘solidarity payment’ which continues to live on in this document."
He added that there should be a separate Scottish currency from day one of independence.
“Otherwise Scotland could find itself, for a prolonged period, at the mercy and volatility of sterling financial markets - the likes of which we have seen over recent weeks - but without the financial levers to deal with them," he warned.
