‘Of course Scotland would keep pound’, says pro-union minister
The UK wants to keep Trident in Scotland. Edinburgh wants a currency union. Is this the basis of a deal?

PRO-INDEPENDENCE campaigners received a boost today after a British government minister admitted that Scotland and the remainder of the UK would share the pound in the event of a break-up of the union.
A “government minister at the heart of the pro-union campaign who would play a central role in negotiations” if Scotland votes for independence in the September referendum told the Guardian: "Of course there would be a currency union. There would be a highly complex set of negotiations after a yes vote, with many moving pieces.
“The UK wants to keep Trident nuclear weapons at Faslane and the Scottish government wants a currency union – you can see the outlines of a deal."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The private admission follows a series of public interventions by anti-independence UK government ministers claiming that an independent Scotland would not be allowed to share the pound. Last month Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond accused Chancellor George Osborne of “bluff and bluster” for saying that a vote for independence meant walking out of the pound.
However, polls suggest that the tactic has backfired. Not only has the pro-independence camp gained ground, but a Times/ Yougov survey suggests that 45 per cent of Scots don’t believe that the UK would carry through its threat to kick Scotland out of the pound in the event of independence.
But Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael are sticking to their guns, and dismissed the Guardian report.
Carmichael said: "An anonymous, off-the-record quote does not change the stark reality on the currency.
"The UK government has listened to the views of the governor of the Bank of England and the independent advice of the permanent secretary to the Treasury that a currency union would be damaging for all the United Kingdom.”
A spokesman for Number 10 told the BBC: "There will not be a currency union in the event of independence.
"The only way to keep the UK pound is to stay in the UK. Walking out of the UK means walking out of the UK pound."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star program
speed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
Supreme Court allows transgender troop ban
speed read The US Supreme Court will let the Trump administration begin executing its ban on transgender military service members
-
'You might be surprised by how much you find yourself cheering for them'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
-
Alex Salmond: charismatic politician who nearly broke up the Union
In the Spotlight Remembering the former First Minister who 'normalised' the cause of Scottish independence