ALISTAIR Darling, the leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign, has accused the SNP of "misleading the public" by claiming an independent Scotland would definitely keep the pound.
He spoke out after Professor John Kay, a former economic adviser to Alex Salmond, said an independent Scotland would "most likely" have to adopt an independent currency.
The Scottish Greens, part of the Yes Scotland pro-independence group, have also urged the SNP to consider a new currency.
Addressing business leaders in Inverness, Mr Darling said: "The nationalists have gone from favouring the euro, to a currency union and now their own advisers and members of their own coalition are calling for Scotland to adopt its own currency.
"Professor Kay, who Alex Salmond has described as a leading expert who we should all listen to, has said that a currency union simply would not deliver the type of fiscal and economic freedom that the nationalists have based their entire case on.
"The only place that they are left to go is to ditch the pound and set up an entirely new currency. This is not in Scotland's interests. It is not what the people in this country want. Having a different currency from our biggest market and nearest neighbours would have a terrible impact on our businesses."
He added: "There is nothing more fundamental to the prosperity of our people, our businesses and our country than our currency and the tax regime."
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