TORY and SNP attempts to use deficit figures to back their rival nationalisms ignore the key question of who owns our resources, Labour peer Pauline Bryan told the Morning Star today.

The annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report showed that Scotland’s deficit has dropped from 22.7 per cent of GDP to 12.3 per cent — but that’s still more than double the UK figure of 6.1 per cent.

Conservative MSP Liz Smith said the disparity showed “the huge benefits we all gain from being part of a strong United Kingdom,” with Britain’s overall lower deficit meaning Scots were “£2,184 better off.”

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish deficit was dropping faster than the British and surging North Sea oil and gas prices would see it fall faster still.

“Even in the midst of an energy crisis, the UK as a whole is benefiting from Scotland’s natural wealth,” he insisted.

But Ms Bryan said: “The massive rise in North Sea oil and gas profits, instead of being condemned, has reintroduced the cry ‘It’s Scotland’s oil!’

“Of course it is Shell and BP’s oil. Swinney claims that the British response to the cost-of-living crisis is built on Scotland’s natural resources, not least with the windfall tax.

“But rather than fighting over the crumbs we should be demanding the redistribution of wealth from the City of London to working people everywhere in the UK.

“To do this we need to fight not just for democratic control of our parliaments, but of our economy. This won’t happen under Tory or SNP rule.”