SCOTLAND’S ruling nationalists are set to adopt the controversial Growth Commission report as official policy, senior party figures confirmed today.

The blueprint for separation, published last year, set out a vision for economic independence – including disciplined public spending and a new Scottish central bank.

But it was criticised by leading figures on both sides of the independence debate for being too economically conservative.

SNP deputy leader Keith Brown confirmed that he and Economy Secretary Derek Mackay would seek the endorsement of the package at the SNP spring conference next month.

However, the motion will break with the Growth Commission’s recommendation that the pound be retained for a lengthy transition period.

Instead, Mr Brown and Mr Mackay will advocate “that an SNP government in an independent Scotland would establish an independent currency.”

Mr Brown claimed that having plans for a new currency would “maximise support for an independent Scotland.”

In the pro-independence National newspaper, he wrote: “The process of moving to a new currency must be managed robustly and be guided by the best interests of the Scottish people and economy – in short, it must be done at the right time, in a way that affords necessary protection for our nation’s economy and for people’s personal finances.”

But Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard argued that the Growth Commission report’s recommendations were “the exact opposite of what Scotland needs.”

He warned: “The so-called Growth Commission outlines a further decade of austerity, with tax cuts and more power for big business, and fewer rights for workers.

“What Scotland needs are Labour governments that will end low pay and the exploitation of workers, reverse the rise in poverty and homelessness and put people before profit through public ownership of our public services.”

He said Labour would instead ensure that “the wealthiest will pay more to fund our NHS, schools and local services,” and would “invest in our people, our communities and industries.”

Former SNP MP George Kerevan, one of the most vocal critics of the report within Scotland’s governing party, welcomed the shift to supporting a new currency.

But speaking to Scottish news website CommonSpace, Mr Kerevan called for “a clear declaration from Keith that the bogus six tests laid down in the Growth Commission report have been dropped,” adding: “It must not be subject to veto by the banks.”