SNP accused of giving Scots a ‘false prospectus’ with oil price prediction

The SNP are giving Scots a “false prospectus” on public finances in the wake of the oil price collapse, according to the UK energy secretary.

Ed Davey hit out after Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs “everybody’s projections about oil were wrong” before the independence referendum, as value fell by more than 10 times the lowest estimate by the Scottish Government in the run up to September’s vote.

The Liberal Democrat MP called on the First Minister to apologise for the predictions “rather than pretend that it wasn’t an issue.”

He said: “The SNP prospectus was a false prospectus and it is a false prospectus they are putting forward to the Scottish people this coming May and it has been proven that.

“I hope the Scottish people who are very canny, who are very canny about money recognise that it is a false prospectus and demand from their SNP candidates what would they actually do with the oil price now? How would they make their sums add up?

“Why wouldn’t they be in a situation where they were handing out P45s to nurses and teachers? It’s a budget shambles from the SNP.”

New forecasts wiped £9.6 billion off expected revenues over five years.