Most indy supporters think Scot Gov report on country’s huge annual overspend is made up by Westminster new poll finds
MOST indy supporters believe a Scottish Government report laying out the nation’s whopping overspend every year is made up by Westminster, a poll revealed today.
Research by Survation found a list of social media myths were widely believed by more than half of ‘Yes’ backers - with fewer than one in five aware of SNP plans for a new currency.
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The study - commissioned by pro-union think-tank These Islands - asked about the economic position set out in the annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland figures (GERS).
Pollsters found 57 per cent of indy supporters agreed with the statement: “The figures used to calculate Scotland’s deficit (GERS) are made up by Westminster to hide Scotland’s true wealth.”
The statement was “important” or “very important” to 90 per cent of the sample’s opinion on independence.
The latest GERS figures - for 2019-20, before the pandemic’s main impact - show £15.1billion more is spent in Scotland than raised here.
But only 20 per cent of the 1,047 polled agreed total public spending in Scotland is more than the amount raised in taxes.
That’s despite the SNP’s 2014 indy white paper stating: “GERS is the authoritative publication on Scotland’s public finances.”
Other false statements backed include 54 per cent agreeing that “Scottish tax revenues are understated because of Scottish exports leaving via English ports”.
And the false “Scottish tax revenues are understated because taxes generated by the whisky industry are not properly allocated to Scotland” was supported by 66 per cent.
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The poll also showed only 17 per cent of independence supporters were aware keeping the pound until a new Scottish currency is adopted is Nats policy.
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These Islands chairman Kevin Hague said the findings were “truly disturbing” as they suggest an “epidemic of economic fact denial” in Scotland.
He said: “We have been tracking the spread of economic disinformation in the independence debate for some time but are still shocked by these findings.
“The debate is obviously about more than economics, but it’s clear from this survey many supporters of independence deny (or have been persuaded to deny) simple economic facts - that cannot be healthy for democracy.”
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