SNP does not deserve to be in power, says ‘Yes’ businessman
A NATIONALIST businessman has condemned the SNP, claiming the party does not deserve to be in power if it continues to ignore firms over crippling business rate increases.
Donald MacLeod warned that while he continues to support separation, he would not want an independent Scotland to be run by a party that fails to deal with ‘here and now issues’.
Mr MacLeod, who owns The Garage nightclub in Glasgow, is facing a 91 per cent hike in the rateable value of his city centre property – meaning he will be hit with a £100,000 annual bill.
He attended a meeting yesterday alongside other business owners and organisations who voiced frustration at the Scottish Government’s failure to halt the revaluation or help those hit hardest.
He added: ‘I’m not changing my view that I want Scotland to have independence one day but I am not wanting it to be independent and be led by a party that doesn’t care, that is throwing caution to the wind, that has not dealt with the issues in the here and now.
‘They have got to deal with this – this is a huge issue. They have got to see it, if they don’t see it they don’t deserve to be leading the country.’
He also hit out at First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Finance Secretary Derek Mackay for their failure to
discuss and consider options raised by worried business owners.
‘It’s is incompetent and it’s frustrating,’ he warned.
While Mr MacLeod said he would most likely be able to absorb the extra costs, he warned some others are considering withholding rates.
‘If they [the SNP] don’t change tactics, people won’t pay,’ he said. ‘It’s not because they want to protest it’s because they won’t pay because they physically can’t.’ Asked if a boycott was discussed at the meeting, he said: ‘It’s something we are talking about.’
His comments come after another prominent SNP-supporting businessman called for a boycott on the new business rates.
Stewart Spence, who owns the fivestar Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, is set to see his bill soar 25 per cent.
He said: ‘I’m just going to continue paying the old amount until there’s a settlement. I’m encouraging others to do that as well.’