George Osborne is told to "stop talking Scotland down"

The Scottish Finance Secretary, John Swinney, has urged UK Chancellor George Osborne to stop “talking Scotland down” after Mr Osborne claimed the independence debate was causing damage to Scotland’s economy.

The Chancellor made the claims that the “uncertainty” created by Scotland’s constitutional position was “damaging investment in Scotland.”

He said: "There are major businesses around the world who have asked me as chancellor in the last year 'tell us what is going on in Scotland - we're worried about making an investment in that country'.”

Mr Swinney said the claims were “absolute nonsense” and pointed out the many high-profile international businesses who had recently invested in Scotland, including Amazon, Dell, Michelin, Aveloq, FMC Technologies and Doosan Power Systems.

Marco Biagi, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central, told The Journal: “These investments are having a significant positive effect on the employment situation here in Scotland, where the jobless rate is lower than the rest of the UK and the proportion of people in work is higher.

“The fact are clear: so many major global firms are choosing to invest in Scotland – and there will be more such announcements in the months and years ahead – also completely demolishes the suggestions from Unionist politicians that the debate about Scotland’s constitutional future is having a negative impact on investment.

Mr Biagi further added: “A survey of foreign direct investment in the UK, carried out by Ernst & Young, showed that Scotland was far and away the most successful part of the UK in attracting overseas investment last year. And the recent spate of announcements shows that this trend has continued since the May election and the SNP’s overall Holyrood majority, which has guaranteed an independence referendum.”