Salmond disputes claim Scotland would lose pound

Scottish first minister Alex Salmond disputed the argument of British ministers that an independent Scotland would lose the pound, saying businesses in the rest of Britain would forbid something that drove up transaction costs.

Salmond was responding to a series of attacks on the independence campaign over the last 10 days, including a speech from the chancellor George Osborne on February 13 ruling out currency union.

European Commission president Jose Barroso said yesterday it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for Scotland to join the EU.