A Scottish deficit of almost £15 billion places a huge question mark over the SNP's independence mission, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
The Labour leader, who ruled any future coalition with the nationalists ahead of a visit to Scotland, said the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) statistics released on Wednesday showed independence would not be in the best interests of Scotland.
The figures revealed a Scottish deficit of £14.8 billion in 2015/16 when a geographic share of North Sea revenues was allocated.
In a speech in advance of a rally at Glasgow's Crowne Plaza Hotel, Mr Corbyn said: "The SNP have a different purpose which is to achieve independence. I respect their right to advance their cause but I also reserve the right to disagree with them and judge, just as a majority of people in Scotland did in 2014, that it would not be in the interests of the people of Scotland.
"Yesterday's GERS figures underline that concern. A Scottish deficit of £15 billion raises a huge question mark over the central economic mission of the SNP.
"A Labour government will demonstrate to the Scottish people that it is Labour which has the answers to the deep unfairness and inequalities that currently stain our country."
Mr Corbyn and his rival Owen Smith will go head-to-head in the latest leadership hustings in Glasgow on Thursday night.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has backed Mr Smith to replace Mr Corbyn.
He said: "I stand just as Scottish Labour did in May on an unashamedly anti-austerity platform with policies that will ensure that no-one across Scotland and the rest of the country is left behind.
"I'm therefore disappointed that my friend Kezia Dugdale does not sign up to this programme at the moment."
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