Independence would make austerity worse, warns Darling

“Independence wouldn’t put an end to austerity – it would make it worst.” That’s the dire warning from Better Together chief and former Chancellor Alistair Darling today.

Citing figures from the impartial Institute of Fiscal studies, Darling has said that if Scotland left the UK it would result in an extra £6billion worth of cuts to public spending. Speaking in Aberdeen, he said:

“The stark reality is that independence would mean £6 billion worth of cuts to our public services like schools and hospitals. That’s £6 billion over and above any austerity happening today. That’s not me saying that, it’s the impartial experts who are saying this.

“Independence wouldn’t put an end to austerity – it would make it worse. And it’s the poorest who would suffer most from the extra austerity independence would bring.”

Darling said that not only would cuts fall on services such as schools and NHS hospitals, but that there would also be “higher energy and shopping bills, more expensive rents and mortgages” putting a greater strain on Scottish families’ household budgets.

Labour leader Ed Miliband heads to Scotland tomorrow to campaign for Better Together, where he is expected to attempt to reach out to Labour supporters considering backing independence.