Scotland ‘too skint to pay for benefits’

AN independent Scotland could not pay its own benefits, a Tory Minister claimed yesterday.

 

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith warned that public services would have to be axed or taxes raised.

Scotland’s furious First Minister Alex Salmond last night threatened to quit referendum talks over the “nonsensical and offensive” remarks.

But speaking in Glasgow, IDS said: “This isn’t scaremongering, it’s reality.” He pointed out that spending on benefits is six per cent higher north of the border than in England because of mass unemployment.

And he said being part of the UK provided Scotland with a safety net but being alone would leave it skint. His comments came as PM David Cameron met Mr Salmond for referendum talks in Downing Street.

Speaking afterwards, the First Minister said: “There was goodwill within the meeting but of course it’s possible that noises from people like Iain Duncan Smith could still blow things off course.”


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4547538/Scotland-too-skint-to-pay-for-benefits-says-Tory-Minister-Iain-Duncan-Smith.html#ixzz26zwLrlqX