Scotland’s soaring deficit is no barrier to independence, says minister

Scottish finance secretary says notional deficit of 36.3bn for 2020-21 does not undermine case for leaving UK

Scotlands deficit more than doubled to 36.3bn, or 22.4% of GDP in 2020-21, the highest yearly figure since devolution, but it should not be an obstacle to making the case for independence, according to Scotland's finance secretary.

Increased spending and falling revenues as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, compounded by the continuing oil price slump, increased Scotland's notional deficit for 2020-21 from 8.6% of GDP in 2019-20, to 22.4%.