Independent Scotland cannot join EU and keep pound, says senior Euro official

One of Europe's top officials has said Scotland will not be allowed to keep using the pound sterling and remain in the European Union in case of an independence vote.

Olli Rehn, vice president of the European Parliament and former commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, said in a letter to chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander the use of sterling in Scotland is prohibited unless Westminster grants explicit permission. All three main political parties have already refused to allow Scotland to retain the pound in case of a 'Yes' vote, making this option illegal under EU law, which requires a country to have access to an independent central bank to use a currency. Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister, argued this would not stop th...