The writer is first minister of ScotlandDuring the Scottish referendum campaign in 2014, people in Scotland were told that if we voted No to independence, we could rely on the stability of Westminster’s stewardship of the economy.

That message of stability, founded as it was on the UK’s supposed economic strength (of which EU membership was a key part) dominated the messaging of anti-independence politicians. However, even at the time, the UK was already demonstrating what has become its defining economic characteristics — low growth, low productivity and deep inequality.

As a result of the disastrous decision to leave the EU — against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland — this inherently weak and unstable economic model seems now to be hardwired into the UK’s future.