SNP accuses coalition of blocking talks on pound

COALITION ministers have been accused of blocking talks on how an independent Scotland would share the pound with the rest of the UK.

Picture: PA

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the UK government had vetoed talks on the two nations sharing sterling in the event of a Yes vote in the 2014 referendum.

Ms Sturgeon insisted that the SNP’s plans to retain the pound under independence would benefit the economies of Scotland and the rest of the UK.

She went on to claim that the Tory-Lib Dem coalition was opposing talks for “purely political reasons” as he said there was already backing for currency talks ahead of the referendum. The UK government has repeatedly dismissed calls from the SNP to hold pre-referendum talks on how an independent Scotland would leave the UK.

Nobody from the UK government was available for comment.