Scotland’s £9bn deficit rise shows indy won't add up

But Nats cling on to dream of a breakaway

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

SCOTLAND’S deficit has now increased by almost £9billion in just two years, in what is likely to prove a fatal blow to John Swinney’s Scottish independence dreams.

New SNP Government figures showed that the the gap between public spending and tax income increased to a huge £26.5billion, or 11.7% of GDP, including North Sea oil and gas revenues.

This net fiscal deficit rose from £22.68bn in 2023/24 and just over £18bn the previous year.

Government expenditure per person in Scotland is £2,669 higher than in the rest of the UK, a figure known as the Union dividend.

It has risen by £358 on the previous year. Scotland makes up about 8.2% of the UK population, but receives around 9.1% of UK public spending.