Figures backing economic argument for independence 'out of date', says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has said a fresh analysis of the economics of an independent Scotland must take place due to the existing figures being “out of date”.

The SNP leader and First Minister told Channel 4 in an interview set to be broadcast on Thursday night the assessment around the Sustainable Growth Commission report in 2018, which sought to provide an economic analysis for an independent Scotland.

Commissioned following the Brexit referendum, the report was meant to “restart” the debate on independence and be a template for an independent Scotland’s economic success.

However, the figures are now “completely out of date”, said Ms Sturgeon, due to the “fiscal position” of the UK and Scotland “turned upside down”.

First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon, said the economic analysis of an independent Scotland needs updating.

The First Minister added a fresh, post-Brexit analysis would be required ahead of any independence referendum.

She told Channel 4: “The past year I’ve been leading through a global pandemic. We need to get to the point where we are putting that choice before the Scottish people. And as we did in 2014 in the White Paper, we will put forward the assessment of what independence means and all of the answers to the questions that people have about independence.

"The Growth Commission, as we have seen because of what has happened since, those figures are out of date.

"I hope that we will be in a position, Covid-permitting, to offer the people in Scotland the choice of independence in the first half of the next parliamentary term.

"And at the point we offer that choice we will put, based on the up-to-date figures, the assessments that you are talking about.”

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