Britain's statistics watchdog has called for the ditching of a statistic that drastically inflates an independent Scotland's green-energy potential.
Sir Robert Chote, the chairman of the UK Statistics Authority, revealed that the independent body is engaging with the SNP over its "ongoing use" of a debunked claim that Scotland has 25% of the offshore wind resource potential in Europe.
Research has shown that the figure, cited multiple times by the SNP and the Scottish Government over several years, is inaccurate and based on research that excluded green-energy powerhouses such as Sweden, Norway and Finland.
Despite ministers being forced to admit four weeks ago that the figure was wrong, the SNP has continued to distribute it on leaflets to voters in a bid to boost support for independence.
The Scottish Government said last month that the 25% figure needed updating.
But, the Telegraph says this incorrect figure was still cited yesterday on the SNP website and social-media accounts. It added that ministers and SNP MPs have also so far defied calls to correct the parliamentary record.
Inflated
Sir Robert, in a letter to Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, who complained about the use of the figure, said an investigation had confirmed that it was "inflated" and "inaccurate".
He said: "We understand that Scottish Government and ministers are already aware that this 25% figure is inaccurate.
"It is good practice for elected representatives to correct their use of official statistics. My office is engaging with the Scottish National Party about its ongoing use of the claim and with the offices of those who have recently used it to emphasise the importance of using quantitative evidence appropriately."
An investigation by These Islands, a pro-UK think tank, found Scottish civil servants had privately raised concerns about the accuracy of the figure more than two years ago, warning in October 2020 that it had "proved very difficult to source".
More up-to-date research was available to show Scotland only has between 4% and 6% of Europe's potential offshore wind power rather than the quarter claimed.
However, the 25% figure was still included in Nicola Sturgeon's flagship economic plan and cited as recently as last month by Ian Blackford, the SNP's former Westminster leader.
Flynn claim
Stephen Flynn, the Aberdeen South MP who ousted Mr Blackford recently, has claimed that Scotland has "25% of Europe's offshore wind capacity" in the Commons twice this year, most recently in October.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: "This spin has now been dismantled by the highest statistical authority in the land.
"I fully support the expansion of Scotland's renewable sector, but the strong case is undermined when the Scottish Government and SNP use figures that leave them open to the charge of misleading and misrepresenting.
"The Scottish Government must now set out how it will correct the record and whether it will take any action to discourage its own ministers and spokespeople from claiming that yellow is green."
Challenged over the statistics watchdog's intervention at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said the 25% figure was "out of date" and "no longer appropriate", but added: "The fact of the matter is that we have massive renewables potential."