THE most high-profile business advocate of Scottish independence during the referendum campaign has declared that he no longer supports leaving the UK.

 

Jim McColl, chief executive of Clyde Blowers Capital, said "No, the decision's been made" when asked if he still supported Scotland moving towards independence.

The support of the billionaire was regularly cited by senior figures in the Yes campaign in the run-up to September's vote as a riposte to accusations that breaking away from the UK would harm the economy.

However, Mr McColl backed far greater devolution to Holyrood than is currently being proposed, saying the Smith Commission package did not include powers that would help create jobs.

Mr McColl said: "I don't think this is a Scotland-England issue; this is a London and the rest of the UK [issue]. This is all about centralisation. I think having income tax doesn't mean anything. All of the stuff that we're being given, I don't think is going to make any difference to our ability to attract businesses."

The comments were leapt on by opponents to the SNP, with a spokesman for Scottish Labour saying "Any convert is always welcome".

He added: "We expect many more former supporters of independence to join him. Unlike the SNP, Scottish Labour wants to work with the powers we do have rather than keep harking on about those we don't."

A spokesman for the SNP said the party welcomed Mr McColl's backing for more job creation powers for the Scottish Parliament.