A BBC Question Time audience member last night launched a zinger of a one-liner attacking David Cameron and George Osborne's deficit reduction claims...
Speaking from Dundee, Scotland, the young man said: "I think it's ridiculous to say because of the 'black hole' that Scotland can't be independent, because the UK is £1.3 trillion in debt.
"For David Cameron and George Osborne to keep saying it's the last Labour government's fault, if I had a pound for every time they've said that I could probably pay for this 'black hole' myself."
Oof.
His witty remark drew swift applause from the audience.
The UK national debt is in fact closer to £1.5 trillion and grows at a rate of around £1.4 billion each week.
However, figures released this week showed the vulnerability of the Scottish economy as it was announced country's deficit was 9.7 per cent of GDP in 2014/15 compared to 4.9 per cent for the UK as a whole.
The Scottish National Party has been accused of trying to “con” the Scottish public into voting for independence after figures emerged showing the collapse in North Sea oil has dented the country's finances.
On the same program, Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, claimed the SNP had been “found out” over it claims each Scot would be £500 better off out of the United Kingdom.
Thursday's Question Time came from Dundee, Scotland. The programme's panel included leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson MSP, deputy first minister of Scotland John Swinney MSP, Labour's health spokeswoman Jenny Marra MSP.
Alongside leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP, co-convener of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie MSP and Daily Telegraph columnist Tim Stanley.