SNP claims that an independent Scotland inside the EU would see Scots £3,000 richer was dismissed as “utter mince” today.

The party’s deputy leader Keith Brown made the assertion after Stanford University professor Nick Bloom claimed up to 8 per cent had been knocked off Britain’s GDP since leaving the EU — equivalent to £3,000 for every adult.

Assuming Scotland became independent, transitioned to its own currency to enable EU membership, and agreed to terms at some indeterminate future date, Mr Brown said Scots could see that cash.

“Andy Burnham has stated the conditions for an independence referendum and now we know one of the prizes on offer — an independence dividend worth up to £3,000 for every person,” he claimed.

But Lib Dem MSP David Green compared the argument to offering “everyone a puppy or a Ferrari.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson branded it “utter mince from a deluded and desperate SNP,” adding: “This use of numbers is the most damning indictment of maths in Scotland since this week’s Pisa results.

“Instead of talking spurious rubbish, the SNP should focus on doing their jobs for once.”