Scots Tory leader backs post-YES vote currency union

Scotland’s Finance Secretary John Swinney has welcomed comments by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson that she backs a currency union post-independence.

Speaking in a BBC Scotland webcast interview posted on the BBC website today, Ms Davidson was asked if she would back a currency union post-independence and said “If that is what is best for Scotland, then Yes.”

Ms Davidson’s support for a currency union follows Alistair Darling saying last year that a currency union was both “logical” and “desirable”, the Tory Deputy leader Jackson Carlaw saying he would be “manning the barricades” in support of a currency union, and a UK Government Minister who said in March that “Of course there would be a currency union,”

Commenting Mr Swinney said:

“I welcome that Ruth Davidson has joined the growing number of No campaign leaders who support a currency union post-independence, including the UK Government Minister who said that “of course there would be a currency union.” After all the pound is as much Scotland’s as the rest of the UK’s and as the Scottish Government and the Fiscal Commission have set out, a currency union is in the best interests of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

"Instead of continuing with the farcical position of opposing a currency union which is now widely recognised as right for Scotland, for the UK and for business, the UK Government should accept the common sense position – now supported by Ruth Davidson - that given Scotland is the second biggest trading partner for the rest of the UK, it makes perfect sense for our currency union to continue.”