SNP boss admits Scotland will never be independent unless voters start thinking it will make them richer
Ian Blackford said that regardless of Brexit the SNP needs to convince on the economy
SCOTTISH independence will never happen unless voters believe it will make them richer, a top SNP boss admitted last night.
The confession by Ian Blackford marks a sharp departure from Nicola Sturgeon’s previous claim that Scotland should break off from the UK so it can stay in the EU.
It makes the prospect of independence more remote than ever - because the Scottish economy has long been flagging in the wake of oil price crash.
Mr Blackford, the SNP leader in Westminster, said in an interview that economics were more important than Brexit in determining whether or not there will be a second referendum.
He : “We will win independence when we can persuade the people of Scotland that their economic future is better as an independent country.
“The timing will be determined by circumstances but if we are talking about a hard Brexit, it will be a very considerable factor.”
In contrast, Ms Sturgeon has insisted that Scotland must have a second vote on independence to avoid leaving the EU because most Scots wanted to Remain.
She called a fresh referendum earlier this year - only to shelve it when the SNP lost 21 seats at the General Election.
The party lost the first independence referendum in 2014 partly because voters worried they would suffer financially from the break-up of the UK.
And Scotland’s position has since got worse, as the oil price has collapsed leaving stocks in the North Sea almost worthless.
Last year the country’s economy shrank - at the same time as the rest of Britain was growing strongly.
Businesses have warned that they would pull investment out of an independent Scotland, with Edinburgh banks including RBS threatening to relocate to London.
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Scottish Labour said that Mr Blackford’s admission showed the dream of independence was “truly in tatters”.
Economy spokesman Jackie Baillie said today: “Nicola Sturgeon said separation should transcend the economy – now her leader in Westminster is saying people will only back it if they think it’ll make them richer.
“The awkward truth for the SNP is that independence would cause turbo-charged austerity and leave people in Scotland poorer.”