Dramatic falls in the global oil price in recent weeks would have created a £15.5billion financial blackhole for an independent Scotland, it was claimed today.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said the Scottish Government's oil revenue forecast for the first three years of independence would have been plunged into turmoil.

He claimed the latest UK Government analysis showed that 100 days after the referendum, an independent Scotland would have been facing the shortfall following a drop in oil prices.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael claimed the latest UK Government analysis showed that 100 days after the referendum, an independent Scotland would have been facing the shortfall following a drop in oil prices

The value of North Sea oil reserves played a major role in the campaign for independence, which ended in voters rejecting the idea of going it alone in September's referendum.

Mr Carmichael said 'serious questions' now needed to be asked about how the SNP administration 'got this so badly wrong'.

UK Government figures claim that the current falling price of oil would have provided £4.7 billion for an independent Scotland between 2016-17 and 2018-19.

This is in contrast to Scottish Government predictions of £20.2 billion being generated over the same period.

Mr Carmichael said: 'On referendum day, Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney were predicting 'a second oil boom'.

'Scottish Government economists were telling us the oil price would be 110 US dollars (£70) per barrel.

'Now, just 100 days later, with the oil price actually standing at 60 US dollars (£38), there is a £15.5 billion hole in the finances of independence.

'That is a £155 million mistake for every day that has passed since the referendum on September 18.'

The value of North Sea oil reserves played a major role in the campaign for independence, with Prime Minister David Cameron visiting the BP Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) oil platform in the North Sea, around 100 miles east of Aberdeen in February

'Serious questions need to be asked about how they could have got this so badly wrong on this vital referendum issue.

'We were making a decision that Scots were going to have to live with forever and the Scottish Government are sticking to wildly optimistic oil predictions that have not even made it to the new year.'

A spokesman for Deputy First Minister John Swinney accused Mr Carmichael of 'staggering hypocrisy'

Mr Carmichael said it was 'totally unacceptable' and said the Scottish Government needs to take steps to 'restore confidence' in any future oil analysis.

He said: 'At the same time, we are continuing to work closely with industry leaders to address the challenges it faces and to maintain Britain's energy security by maximising the economic recovery of our domestic oil and gas resources.

'The package of allowances and tax reliefs the UK Government unveiled as part of the Autumn Statement were the result of the close and productive working relationship with the oil and gas sector in this country - a level of support which is only possible because we can draw on the combined strength and resources of the United Kingdom.'

However, the Scottish government hit back, accusing Mr Carmichael of 'staggering hypocrisy' and claiming the Westminster government had massively over-estimated the price of oil in recent forecasts.

A spokesman for Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: 'Instead of, bizarrely, gloating over his own Government's lower than expected revenues, Mr Carmichael should be doing all he should to help the industry, which has too often been subject to wildly fluctuating taxation from successive Westminster governments.

'Oil is a bonus, not the basis of Scotland's economy, and will be a fantastic asset for Scotland for decades to come, with as much in value still to come as has already be extracted. And most independent forecasts expect the price to rise again next year, with Opec predicting a price of 110 US dollars per barrel for the rest of the decade and around 100 US dollars in real terms in the long run.