Swinney tells Darling: Scotland 'cannot stay part of bankrupt Britain'

SCOTLAND can no longer afford to remain part of "bankrupt Britain", finance secretary John Swinney warned yesterday.

He told the SNP's spring conference that the nation has subsidised the UK for decades and could now afford to go it alone. And he warned that Alistair Darling had "one last chance" to deliver a Budget to benefit Scotland, laying down four key demands ahead of the Chancellor's announcement on Wednesday.

Mr Swinney said: "Throughout the 1970s and 80s and 90s and the early part of the 21st century, Scotland has been contributing into the UK more than we have been getting back.

"Scotland is a strong and prosperous economy, we can afford to be independent. In fact, we cannot afford to remain part of bankrupt Britain."

Mr Swinney said the key to Scotland's economic future was the renewables industry and the opportunities offered by wind and wave technology.

"This country is in the lead in the research and development on the new low-carbon economy and that is a key to the economic future of Scotland," he said.

"The country that discovered oil and did not get any richer is the country that is in the lead on renewable energy and we are determined to seize that economic prize for Scotland."

Mr Swinney made four demands ahead of Mr Darling's Budget. He wants guarantees the Scottish budget will not be reduced; a targeted fiscal stimulus; action on the effect of fuel duty on rural areas of Scotland, and clarity on public expenditure.

Mr Swinney said he was frustrated at having to wait for the Budget announcement "to find out what resources will be at the disposal of the Scottish Government in years to come".

He added: "What a ridiculous position that the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament is being put in. We should have the normal powers of a normal parliament, able to take the decisions about our economy, our future, our businesses and our families. That's the powers that we should have as an independent country able to take our own decisions."

But Derek Brownlee, the Conservative spokesman on finance, said the ball was already in Mr Swinney's court over the budget. "Will he now use the tools at his disposal to deal with this debt crisis?" he asked.

"It is now time for the SNP to stop campaigning like a party in opposition and get on with acting like a party in government able to take the necessary decisions to get us out of this debt crisis."