Budget 2014: Independent Scotland 'would be worse off'

Chancellor George Osborne has said an independent Scotland would be £1,000 worse off per person if it was to split apart from the UK.

Delivering the 2014 Budget, Osborne said Scotland and the UK are "better together", warning individuals in Scotland would be significantly worse off if the country split away from the rest of the UK. "Independent Scots would have a £1,000 shortfall per person," he said. "We are better together". His comments come ahead of the vote on an independent Scotland. Many businesses - including banks - have said they are making contingency plans in case the vote, which is expected to be close, does lead to the country breaking away from the UK.