Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday forced to deny SNP plans to use the euro after her most senior European election candidate suggested Scotland could join the single currency.
The first minister said the SNP had no plans to use the euro after Alyn Smith said he was “agnostic” about what currency an independent Scotland would use.
He said he had no preference about retaining the pound, introducing a new Scottish currency or adopting the euro.
Mr Smith argued that the currency issue was “too important” to be a matter for ideology.
When asked about the comments, Ms Sturgeon said: “The SNP has no policy of using the euro and we’ve made that abundantly clear.”
Speaking at a European election campaign event where she met EU nationals in Edinburgh, the First Minister declined to criticise Mr Smith, who has served as a MEP since 2004.
Despite her denial that there were plans to join the single currency, the SNP leader said: “Alan’s comments on currency are perfectly sensible.
“The point at the heart of those comments is that Scotland – like every other country – would have the currency arrangements that are best for the economy of the country.”
At the SNP conference last month, delegates voted in favour of setting up a separate Scottish currency “as soon as practicable” after independence once six economic tests are met.
Adam Tomkins, Scottish Conservative shadow constitution secretary, said: “It is unacceptable that a leading SNP candidate is agnostic about the currency of your pension, your mortgage and your job.
“The fact is that the SNP knows that Scots don’t want the euro.”
