NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to heed the Scots tycoon Sir Tom Hunter and rule out a second independence referendum linked to Brexit.
Sir Tom, one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs, told The Herald yesterday it would be “foolhardy” to compound the uncertainty of leaving the EU with a referendum on leaving the UK.
The Ayrshire businessman, who made his fortune through the Sports Division retailer, also said Brexit was a barrier to independence, rather than a boost to the Yes cause.
He said: “I really do think it would be the wrong thing to bring up another independence referendum at this point. I’m not saying never, just not now. There’s enough uncertainty for us all to deal with.”
Despite the First Minister saying June’s Brexit vote has made a second referendum “highly likely”, and many in the SNP seeing it as the springboard to a Yes vote, Sir Tom disagreed.
He said: “I actually think the reverse - with this uncertainty about Brexit… No one really knows what it’s going to mean from a commercial point of view. There are going to be so many things to be worked out that to add Scottish independence on top would be foolhardy.”
Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “It really is time for the SNP to listen. Another referendum would cause even more uncertainty when businesses can least afford it.
“The Scottish Government should break the habit of a lifetime and do something helpful for Scotland’s businesses, by taking a referendum re-run off the table.”
Labour MP Ian Murray said: “World renowned entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter is right. The Tories' reckless Brexit gamble will mean huge uncertainty for our economy over the next few years, and the last thing we need is the added uncertainty and upheaval of a second divisive independence referendum.
“The SNP has failed to answer the big questions from 2014, and every economic problem we associate with Brexit will be even more painful with independence. The SNP would be much better focused on getting the best possible Brexit deal for Scotland.”
Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie added: “The problems we are seeing with Brexit would be replicated with Scottish independence. Uncertainty and putting up barriers costs growth and jobs. The best future for Scotland is working with our partners in the UK and the best future for the UK is working with our partners in the EU.”
MP Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s Europe spokesman, yesterday accused the UK government of creating “six months of damaging uncertainty” by failing to come up with a plan for Brexit.
He said Tory ministers had continued the “gross irresponsibility and negligence” of the Leave campaign by refusing to give practical details, and repeating “meaningless slogans”.
He said: “The threat of a right-wing hard Brexit is already hitting the economy, businesses, families and communities across the country – and all before the UK has even left the EU.”
He urged the UK to respond to the SNP Government’s blueprint for a Scotland-only soft Brexit deal and “finally set out a plan of its own – one which genuinely treats Scotland as an equal partner, and respects the mandate of the Scottish people who voted to remain in the EU”.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Brexit is by far the biggest threat to Scotland’s jobs, prosperity and economy, which why we have always been clear that remaining members of the EU – and members of the world’s largest single market of more than 500 million people, which is around eight times bigger than the UK’s alone – is the best option for our future.
“Given that a material constitutional change has occurred since 2014, the option of independence must remain on the table. Without that option, Scotland would have to accept whatever decisions the UK Government makes – no matter how damaging they are to Scotland's interests.”
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