The party seized on government figures released under a Freedom of Information request to demonstrate the economic potential for an independent Scotland.

“We now have official government figures showing that, with North Sea resources allocated to Scotland, we would soar from 10th to 3rd in the league table of EU nations in terms of wealth per head, compared to the UK's 8th position,” said SNP MSP Alex Neil.

"For 30 years, we have had statistical manipulation perpetrated by successive UK Governments - Labour and Tory - to hide the extent of Scotland's oil wealth from the Scottish people,” he said. “The Scottish Government figures illustrate the reality that the London-based parties have been desperate to suppress for decades.”

But Labour rubbished the claim.

"It is little surprise Alex Neil is quoting the 1970s, it is where his ideas and broken record soundbites belong,” said a spokesman.

"Support for independence is falling and recent opinion polls show that people agree it will mean higher taxes for Scottish families.

"It is hilarious that Alex Neil would talk about the Scottish economy's potential while proposing something that would ultimately damage it - separating Scotland from its biggest trading partner, the UK."