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Scottish independence: Salmond attacks Osborne's currency case Scottish independence: Currency union block could hurt firms, says Alex Salmond
(35 minutes later)
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has said a UK government attack on plans to keep the pound in an independent Scotland has "backfired". Any move to block an independent Scotland sharing the pound could damage business in the rest of the UK, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.
Mr Salmond said Chancellor George Osborne's move against a currency union had shown the "arrogance" of the Westminster parties. Mr Salmond said the UK Treasury could impose "hundreds of millions of pounds" in costs on firms if plans for a post-Yes currency union were rejected.
Last week, Mr Osborne said a vote for independence meant walking away from the pound. Last week Chancellor George Osborne said a vote for independence meant walking away from the pound.
The row came ahead of the September 18 independence referendum.The row came ahead of the September 18 independence referendum.
Mr Osborne's position that he could not support a currency union were backed by the other two main Westminster parties, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Hitting out at Mr Osborne during a speech in Aberdeen, Mr Salmond said: "I am publishing today an estimate of the transactions cost he would potentially impose on businesses in the rest of the UK.
Speaking in Aberdeen, Mr Salmond said "attempts to dictate from on high" the terms of the debate was damaging the democratic process. "They run to many hundreds of millions of pounds.
He said Mr Orborne's position was not an economic assessment, but a "campaign tactic", adding that the "accumulated negativity" of the campaign to keep the Union, would "differ greatly from the reality of life" after the referendum. "My submission is that this charge - let us call it the George Tax - would be impossible to sell to English business."
"To be told there are things we can't do will certainly elicit a Scottish response that is as resolute as it is uncomfortable to the 'No' campaign," said Mr Salmond. Mr Osborne's position that he could not support the Scottish government's currency union plan was backed by the other two main Westminster parties, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Mr Salmond said "attempts to dictate from on high" the terms of the debate was damaging the democratic process.
He said Mr Osborne's position was not an economic assessment, but a "campaign tactic", adding that the "accumulated negativity" of the campaign to keep the Union, would "differ greatly from the reality of life" after the referendum.
"To be told there are things we can't do will certainly elicit a Scottish response that is as resolute as it is uncomfortable to the 'No' campaign," said the Scottish first minister.
"It is, 'yes we can'. It is a sign of just how our of touch and arrogant the Westminster establishment has become.""It is, 'yes we can'. It is a sign of just how our of touch and arrogant the Westminster establishment has become."
EU concern
The first minister said the Scottish government's fiscal commission concluded last year that sharing the pound in a sterling zone was the best option for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Mr Salmond's speech also came after European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso cast doubt on Scotland's membership of the European Union in the event of a "Yes" vote.Mr Salmond's speech also came after European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso cast doubt on Scotland's membership of the European Union in the event of a "Yes" vote.
Mr Barroso said it would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible" for an independent Scotland to join and that it would have to apply for membership and get the approval of all current member states.Mr Barroso said it would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible" for an independent Scotland to join and that it would have to apply for membership and get the approval of all current member states.
But the first minister said the EU had admitted so many countries that a "pragmatic way" would be found in the case of Scotland.But the first minister said the EU had admitted so many countries that a "pragmatic way" would be found in the case of Scotland.
Mr Salmond said no member state had suggested it would seek to block an independent Scotland from becoming an EU member.Mr Salmond said no member state had suggested it would seek to block an independent Scotland from becoming an EU member.
Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-Union Better Together campaign and the UK's former chancellor, said the idea of a currency union did not "stack up" for Scotland or the rest of the UK.Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-Union Better Together campaign and the UK's former chancellor, said the idea of a currency union did not "stack up" for Scotland or the rest of the UK.
Mr Darling added that the, "wheels are falling off the independence wagon". He added that the "wheels are falling off the independence wagon".