LEADING Scots advocate Gordon Jackson QC has received a mixed response to his claims that independence could provide a windfall for lawyers.

The former Labour MSP for Glasgow Govan, who is now Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said separation could allow lawyers to pick up work that would otherwise go to London.

Scotland could “grab some of that practice cake”, he told The Herald yesterday, explaining Brexit had made him “more open-minded” about the potential upside of a Yes vote.

He said: “It is difficult to say how it [Brexit] will affect us but... in some ways this provides an opportunity for Scottish law because, at the moment, a huge amount of commercial work goes to London.

“Independence could create an opportunity for Scotland to grab some of that practice cake.”

Fellow advocate Gordon Lindhurst MSP, the Scottish Tories' legal affairs spokesman, said: “The suggestion that Scottish independence would somehow see the country become a haven for eager litigants is absurd. I very much doubt that any voters in Scotland would consider lining the pockets of lawyers a valid reason to sever our ties with the rest of the UK.”

A Scottish Labour source added: “If the SNP want to argue that independence will mean more jobs and more money for lawyers then good luck with that."

But an SNP spokesman said: “He’s right on two counts – we have no clue how Brexit will turn out and the prospect of that is leading more and more people to rethink how they would vote in a future referendum on Scottish independence.”

Green MSP John Finnie added: “While I've never heard of increased income for lawyers motivating those supporting Scottish independence, there's little doubt every sector has the potential to flourish when Scotland takes on the additional responsibilities of nationhood.”

Mr Jackson lost his parliamentary seat to Nicola Sturgeon in 2007.