The Conservatives have reiterated George Osborne’s warning that Scotland has to stay in the UK to keep the pound.

The party was reacting to a new poll for The Herald which showed that almost two–thirds of Scots want sterling as their currency.

The SNP accused Mr Osborne of “project fear” in 2014 when the then Chancellor said that the rest of the UK would not join a currency union with an independent Scotland.

Last month Deputy First Minister John Swinney said that Mr Osborne’s comments had been “one of the factors that drove people into our arms” during the last referendum campaign.

Mr Osborne lost his job when he was sacked by Prime Minister Theresa May over the summer.

Nicola Sturgeon has said that another vote is likely and asked her Growth Commission to consider what currency an independent Scotland might use.

The BMG poll for The Herald of more than 1,000 adults found that 64 per cent of Scots want to keep using the pound.

Almost a quarter, 24 per cent, plumped for a new currency, such as a Scottish pound, while just over one in 10 preferred the euro.

Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said it was "no surprise" that so many wanted to keep the pound.

He added: “Now the SNP has to realise that the only way to guarantee that is by keeping Scotland part of the UK."