Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell has urged the SNP to reveal how they would cope with the fiscal pressures of separation.
The local MP was speaking after economic experts warned that an independent Scotland will have to slash public spending or hike taxes to put it on a sound financial footing.
A report from the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies said a separate Scotland's economy would be in a weaker position and would have to take stricter austerity measures imposed by any UK Government.
IFS experts said that even in the most optimistic of scenarios, Scotland’s “long-run fiscal gap” would be 1.9 per cent of national income - more than double that of the rest of the UK.
Scottish public sector debt would rise above 100 per cent of national income by the early 2030s, the report added, while a new state may have to pay higher interest rates on borrowing.
Local MP David Mundell said: “We are less than a year away from the vitally important independence referendum, yet the SNP are still keeping us in the dark about how they plan to tackle all the issues surrounding a separate Scotland.
“We have just learned from the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies that a separate Scotland's economy would be in a weaker position and would have to slash public spending or hike taxes to put it on a sound financial footing.
“Those of us who believe Scotland would be better as part of the UK have urged the SNP to reveal how it would cope with the fiscal pressures of separation, whether it is by increasing taxes, borrowing or cutting back on public services such as the NHS or schools.
“The South of Scotland, which includes my constituency, already sees resources sucked back into the Central Belt and a lack of funding for infrastructure. Independence will only put public spending under more pressure, and leave us worse off. The SNP needs to be honest with voters by telling us now which choices it would make.”