In another extraordinary statement, the analysis argued that Scotland’s theoretical deficit – the difference between taxes collected and spending – did not matter.
The financial black hole doubled last year to 22.4% of GDP, about double anywhere else in Europe and more than seven times the three per cent limit needed to become an EU member.
The Institute for Tax Studies has said that this would provide an indication of the finances of an independent Scotland on the first day, but the analysis said: “This tells us nothing about how Scotland would behave as an independent country and is , in any case, an argument for change, not against “.
Kevin Hague, chairman of the These Islands pro-Union think tank, attacked the “childish” conclusion, tweeting: “So on the first day a new economy will be born, old industries will evaporate, public spending will be zero, will the tax base be dissolved and reformed? “
“Statistical gerrymandering presented as analysis”
He said comparisons with other small countries represented “statistical manipulation presented as analysis” and argued that “the general logic is flawed”.
“They attribute all the differences in performance to independence, as if this were the only difference between Scotland and its carefully chosen comparator countries,” he said.
He added: “One could respond as easily as’ what these other countries have that Scotland does not ‘is’ governments focused on improving the lives of their citizens today instead of investing all their energy in feeding the grievance and push for separation “.