Given that the Barnett formula funds on the basis of population and not need, it is profoundly unfair to overfund Scotland by the extent of £4bn to £5bn a year while requiring underfunded local authorities in England to make further savage cuts as their contribution to reducing the deficit.

Scotland receives £1,623, or 19 per cent, more identifiable public expenditure per person than England; this costs England £4.1bn a year.

It is immoral for the party leaders to guarantee Scotland's unfair funding advantage three days before the independence referendum in the hope that the Scots can be persuaded to remain in the Union. 

If the UK exists to ensure opportunity and security for all by sharing our resources equitably, the Union Parliament must act to replace the Barnett Formula with a funding mechanism that is based upon need not nationality.