Indyref: Yes Vote 'Would Increase Austerity'

Independence will not put an end to austerity but will make it worse.

That's the warning from Better Together Chief Alistair Darling.

Experts at the Institute for Fiscal Studies have said leaving the UK would mean an extra 6-billion pounds worth of cuts to schools and hospitals.

Speaking from Aberdeen, former Labour Chancellor Mr Darling said oil and gas had been "great for Scotland".

He said: "I don’t want to risk the future of our health service and pensions on a volatile and declining resource like oil. 

“I don’t want to put the money we have to spend on our schools and hospitals at risk. The best route out of poverty, and the best way to give our young people the best chance in life, is to invest in our education services and our NHS.

“The stark reality is that independence would mean £6 billion worth of cuts to our public services like schools and hospitals. That’s £6 billion over and above any austerity happening today. That’s not me saying that, it’s the impartial experts who are saying this.

“Independence wouldn’t put an end to austerity – it would make it worse. And it’s the poorest who would suffer most from the extra austerity independence would bring.

“Higher energy and shopping bills, more expensive rents and mortgages – that is what the experts say is the reality of independence. Families in Scotland don’t need more pressures to their household budget like this.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t need to put the life chances of young Scots at risk like this.

“There is a much better way. We have a vision around which all Scots can unite. It’s one where we can have the best of both worlds for Scotland within the UK.

“A No vote means we can have more powers for Scotland guaranteed, backed up by the strength, security and stability of being part of the larger UK. 

“That means we can take more decisions here in Scotland to get young people into work, to help people out of poverty and to give our elderly population dignity in retirement.

Fergus Ewing, Scottish Energy Minister, claims oil and gas money has been 'grossly mismanaged' by the UK goverment.

“The only thing putting that at risk is independence. It’s a risk we just don’t have to take, which is why we should say no thanks to independence on 18 September."