Britain will warn Scotland on Thursday it can't keep the pound if it votes for independence, its boldest attempt yet to scuttle a nationalist bid to break the 307-year-old union with England.
In the latest salvo of a choreographed campaign to keep Scotland in the U.K., Finance Minister George Osborne will seek to play on Scottish fears of losing the pound to argue that secession would put Scots' prosperity at risk, pushing them into a tempest of volatility.
"The pound is one of the oldest and most successful currencies in the world," Osborne, Prime Minister David Cameron's closest ally, will say in a speech in Edinburgh, according to his office.
"The UK economy is growing faster than any other advanced economy in Europe. And within the UK, Scotland is growing faster than the rest," Osborne will say in the speech.
Two sources familiar with the matter said Osborne will tell Scots they cannot keep the pound if they vote for independence in the September 18 referendum which will be open to about four million residents of Scotland over the age of 16.
In the speech, Osborne will echo some of Cameron's attempt last week to make the emotional and patriotic case for unity.
But the 42-year-old architect of Britain's drive to reduce spending will deliver a much harsher message to Scots: Leave the U.K. and risk losing the pound you have used for more than three centuries.
