Moore claims SNP have ‘hit wall’ over independence

With 500 days to go until the referendum on the future of Scotland, the Scottish Government’s positions on independence including the EU, Nato, currency and pensions are falling apart under scrutiny, the Scottish Secretary has claimed.

Michael Moore said the two papers published by the UK Government on currency and the legal framework of the UK have seen key pro-independence arguments “hit a wall of hard facts”.

He promised the next 500 days would see “no let-up in the case for independence being tested by the positive evidence for staying in the UK”.

Mr Moore added: “People in Scotland are seeing through the Scottish Government’s position on independence. The nationalist government has been caught out on a number of issues, such as EU membership, Nato, pensions and keeping the pound.”

However, First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Some have questioned what sort of independence we will have by keeping the pound. But it is not having the pound that makes us an independent country it is having the freedom to use our pounds as we wish that will make us independent, and that is what a Yes vote next year will mean.”