THE SNP have hit out at an academic who advised the Better Together campaign for his "hyperbolic attack" on the economic case for independence.
Professor Jim Gallagher, the former director-general for devolution from 2007 to 2010, claimed Scotland faces a “staggering” and worsening deficit: about four times as large proportionately than the UK as a whole.
Ahead of this week’s release of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) data, Gallagher has produced an analysis using figures from the Scottish Government’s fiscal commission and statistics published quarterly by Nicola Sturgeon’s administration and HM Revenue and Custom.
Writing in the Sunday Times, he said: “Scotland starts, structurally, from a weaker place [than England]. Its deficit will be even more staggering, probably well over 25% of gross domestic product,” says Gallagher.
“That’s like borrowing the whole budget of the Scottish parliament in one year. No small country on its own could sustain that,” he writes.
"For the SNP in 2014, oil was to save the day. More recently, the party’s fiscal commission planned to keep on borrowing until something turned up. These are just different fiscal fantasies, denying the reality: independence would carry a painful price in jobs and public services."
Gallagher, who advised Better Together in 2014, adds that Scotland is among the worst countries affected by coronavirus in terms of its national economy, the number of deaths and the depth of the recession.
A spokewoman for Scottish Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, condemned Gallagher's comments, saying the Scottish Government does not have the financial powers to stop the economic impact of the pandemic.
She added: “It is the case for the union which is sinking fast, and desperate, hyperbolic attacks like this are one of the reasons why.
“Every single country on earth is being impacted economically by the pandemic. The difference for Scotland is not, as Mr Gallagher implies, that we are uniquely incapable of tackling it but because, unlike most countries large and small, we don’t have the full economic powers to do so.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel