Darling warns of 'no quickie Union divorce'

Published on Saturday 20 January 2007 11:53

TRADE and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has led a fresh attack on the SNP, warning there would be no "quickie divorce" if Scotland sought independence.

The Edinburgh South West MP warned prolonged uncertainty would have a damaging effect for business. He said: "There will be wrangles over pensions, defence, the allocation of public spending and who knows what else."

Mr Darling also challenged the SNP to say who would become citizens of an independent Scotland. "There are two and a half million Scots with relations in England," he said. "Are these family members to become foreigners in their own land?"

In a speech to an Institute of Public Policy Research event in Edinburgh, Mr Darling further challenged the SNP over its stance on the currency to be used in an independent Scotland.

He said the SNP's policy of keeping the pound until it was economically advantageous to join the euro meant interest rates would continue to be set by the Bank of England.

An SNP spokesman dismissed Mr Darling's attack, saying: "Another day, and another Labour minister is up from London spreading fears and smears about Scotland."