RUTH Davidson will underline her key election pledge to stand up for the Union today when she issues a message of thanks to No voters.

The Scots Tory leader will thank the two million Scots who voted to stay in the UK on the day new official figures are expected to deliver a blow to the SNP's case for independence.

Labour also sought to capitalise on the annual Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland report (GERS) by calling on Nicola Sturgeon to make a statement to MSPs.

Economists are expecting the figures to show a growing gulf between Scotland's public finances and the rest of the UK.

The statistics, covering the financial year 2014/15, will reflect a 54 per cent fall in UK oil revenues, as falling prices and lower production took their toll.

UK oil revenues fell from £4.7bn in 2013/14 to £2.1bn last year.

The figures come a fortnight before 'independence day,' the date pencilled in by Alex Salmond for formally leaving the UK had Scots voted Yes 18 months ago.

Ms Davidson will use the new figures to argue an independent Scotland would have started out from a weaker financial position.

Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: "It’s increasingly clear that the financial promises made by the SNP could hardly be further from the reality.

"Thankfully, the people of Scotland stopped those fantasies in their tracks.

"We will be taking this chance to say thanks to those who voted No Thanks."

Labour's public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "The SNP Government have a responsibility to be honest to the people of Scotland about the balance sheet.

"For months the SNP Government ignored the impact of the oil jobs crisis because it was politically embarrassing to them.

"They need to face the issue head on, put petty politics to one side and deliver a statement to Parliament on GERS."

She said the figures would highlight the scale of cuts required had the SNP succeeded in its call for full fiscal autonomy, an arrangement that would have given the Scottish Government full control over tax and spending decisions.

Last year's figures

showed Scotland's deficit - the difference between revenue and spending over the course of a year - was £12.5billion, or 8.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Scotland was deeper in the red than the rest of the UK, where the deficit was 5.6 per cent of GDP.

The Scottish Government announced at short notice yesterday that Ms Sturgeon and Finance Secretary John Swinney will today unveil the GERS findings during a visit to a hub for new high tech companies in Edinburgh.