THE SNP’s top European election candidate has signalled he is open to an independent Scotland joining the euro.

Alyn Smith said he was "agnostic" on the issue as it was “too important to just be a matter of ideology”.

It comes after SNP members voted to keep the pound immediately after independence before moving to a new currency "as soon as practicable".

Scottish Labour MEP David Martin said the public would be “alarmed to learn the SNP’s top candidate is open to dumping the pound for the euro”.

He said: “That will create a currency barrier between Scotland and the rest of the UK, costing jobs and putting pensions at risk.

“Unlike the SNP, Labour stands to unite our country and bring it back together.”

Mr Smith has been an SNP MEP since 2004, and previously voiced support for joining the euro. 

Appearing on STV’s Scotland Tonight programme, he was asked if he still backed this position.

He said: “I’m agnostic on currency stuff. We’ve had, within the SNP, a lively debate about what sort of currency options there will be for an independent Scotland. What we’ve agreed is a way to get to that proper decision.

“Now, we could keep sterling, we could keep sterling in a formal currency union, we could create an independent Scottish currency, or we could join the euro.

“We could negotiate other options as well depending on the circumstances of the time.”

Asked which option he would go for, he said: “I don’t have a preference. My preference is what’s best for the Scottish economy on the facts as they come."

He continued: “I’ve said I’m agnostic on the currency question. It’s about what matters best for the economic stability of our country, for long-term investment, people’s pensions, people’s homes.

“This is too important to just be a matter of ideology. This is about what works best.

“The euro is working well across the European continent. Sterling, also, is our currency too. So Scotland’s a rich country – we’re going to have lots of options in this discussion.”

Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “Alyn Smith has previously supported the euro for Scotland so to say he is now agnostic is unacceptable.

“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.

“This is a dishonest fudge by Mr Smith, but this won’t fool the voters.

“Alyn Smith and his SNP pals must come clean and admit that they would welcome the euro in Scotland.”