THE director of the CBI in Scotland clashed with SNP MSPs at Holyrood as a committee examined the prospects for the economy after September's referendum vote.

Iain McMillan, a veteran of the business and political scene who argued against a Scottish Parliament in the 1990s, was part of a panel involving other business organisations at the Economics, Energy and Tourism Committee.

He backed the view of Chancellor George Osborne that Scotland would not be allowed to take part in a currency, adding: "This would not be a land of milk and honey. It would be extremely difficult, with many painful decisions to be taken."

Ten minutes into his preamble SNP member Mike MacKenzie interrupted: "Have you any idea how long this polemic is going to continue for because we do have questions?"

When Mr McMillan finished, the SNP's Chic Brodie pressed him on his former opposition to devolution. The CBI Scotland director held his own and countered with a question about the SNP refusing to take part in the Scottish Constitutional Convention and the two began to shout their responses over each other, culminating in the business leader conceding: "That was then. This is now. We changed our view."

Owen Kelly of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), Ian McKay of the Institute of Directors Scotland (ISD), Colin Borland of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Gary Clarke of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce also took part in the initial session.