Jeremy Corbyn: Independent Scotland would have to join euro and create border checkpoints Scotland would have to join the euro, install checkpoints on the border with England and endure “turbo-charged austerity” if it […]

Scotland would have to join the euro, install checkpoints on the border with England and endure “turbo-charged austerity” if it decides to become independent in the wake of the Brexit vote, Jeremy Corbyn has said.

In a prolonged attack on the SNP, the Labour leader said the case for independence had drastically weakened since 2014 and called on Nicola Sturgeon to “listen to the people and respect democracy” rather than agitating for another vote on Scotland’s future.

“An independent Scotland that stays in the EU would mean joining the Euro and having a hard border with the rest of Britain” The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Jeremy Corbyn

In a speech to the Scottish Labour spring conference in Perth, Mr Corbyn claimed it was a “fact” that independence would lead to a “hard border” being created between Scotland and England.

He also said Scotland would have to join the euro if it hoped to re-join the EU after leaving the UK, dismissing the idea of sharing the pound as both “ludicrous” and “bizarre”.

The Labour leader addressed the prospect of Scottish independence amid growing speculation that Ms Sturgeon is set to announce a re-run of 2014’s vote at next month’s SNP conference.

His Scottish counterpart Kezia Dugdale reiterated her opposition to another referendum in her speech on Saturday, while Mayor of London Sadiq Khan caused controversy by suggesting that the SNP’s brand of nationalism was just as divisive as the policies of Donald Trump.

Austerity

“People don’t like the fact that an independent Scotland that stays in the EU would mean joining the Euro and having a hard border with the rest of Britain,” Mr Corbyn said.

He added: “I noted earlier this year that independence would mean turbo-charged austerity. I stand by that.

“Very few want to join the euro – a real prospect if Scotland become independent in Europe – and most, including the SNP in 2014, want to keep the pound.

“[You] would have the ludicrous situation of Scotland tied to a currency from the country they have supposedly just become independent from – only this time without any political representation and control over the central bank. What a bizarre proposal from a party who want to become independent.”

A group within the SNP is currently examining the possible options for a post-independence currency. Some pro-independence groups such as the Scottish Greens believe that a new currency must be created.

Mr Corbyn also cited figures showing that Scotland would be left with a £15bn deficit if it became independent, adding that this exposed the “folly” of building an economy around oil production.

Many believe that border checkpoints would be inevitable if Scotland joined the EU after independence, as it would have a different immigration policy from the rest of the UK and embrace freedom of movement.

However, the SNP has pointed out that the UK Government is committed to keeping the current soft border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and that Scotland would be no different.

An SNP spokesman said: “Even the Tories have gone out of their way to promise there will be no post-Brexit hard border in Ireland – so no one can claim with any credibility that it would be different for Scotland.

“It says it all about Labour that they are reduced to spouting desperate scare stories that even the Tories know are nonsense.”