Nationalists should not count on North Sea oil and gas revenues when making their economic case for independence, a former SNP MSP has reportedly said.
Andrew Wilson, chairman of the SNP’s growth commission, was quoted as saying oil revenues were a “basis” of the party’s case ahead of the 2014 referendum, though nationalists claimed the cash would just be a “bonus”.
Mr Wilson said the SNP had oil “baked into the numbers” and that the party should not repeat the mistake, according to a media report.
In the independence white paper, the Scottish Government said it hoped to generate just under £8billion in oil revenues.
But figures released last summer showed Scotland’s share of North Sea tax would have amounted to just £60million in 2015-16.
The growth commission chaired by Mr Wilson was formed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to focus on ways to grow Scotland’s economy in the wake of the Brexit vote.
Ms Sturgeon said in September that it would also examine projections for Scotland’s finances and proposals for growth in the context of independence
Mr Wilson was cited as saying: “We’ll assume for the purposes of our projections that oil is producing zero revenues and therefore treat any revenues that we get from oil as a proper windfall to be used on intergenerational projects rather than spent on spending today.”
Mr Wilson is currently a managing partner of public affairs firm Charlotte Street Partners.
His report is due to be delivered to the first minister in the coming weeks.
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