Souter joins the doubters over calls for new indy vote
ONE of the SNP’s highest profile backers believes now is not the time for another independence referendum.
Sir Brian Souter has urged Nationalist bosses to hold off on calling a second plebiscite as they have not yet provided a ‘clear vision’ on what the country would look like after leaving the UK.
The Stagecoach boss told BBC Question Time he voted Yes in 2014, but said he was also in favour of Brexit – at odds with the SNP’s position.
The Nationalists have said they would try to rejoin the EU following an independence vote.
But Sir Brian, who has donated to the SNP and Yes campaign, said that to be ‘truly independent’, Scotland should forget about Europe if the country votes for separation after Brexit.
His intervention comes as a number of senior SNP members criticised the party following publication of the Growth Commission report last week.
Its vision for an independent Scotland has sparked fury in the nationalist ranks for its ‘austerity’ and bleak outlook on the economy. On Thursday Sir Brian said he would like to see Scotland model itself on Switzerland, which is outside the EU, and is ‘really in control’ of its own affairs.
He said: ‘We need to present a really clear vision to the Scottish people of an independent Scotland.
‘We don’t have a clear vision from London of what an independent UK is going to look like. That’s part of the problem we have just now.
‘It’s important that we keep the prospect of a referendum on independence before us. I don’t believe the timing is right at this time.’
He said: ‘I think that the Swiss model is much more attractive than being part of the European Union.’
The Swiss have a free trade agreement with the EU but not full access to the single market for its finance sector.
Scottish Tory chief whip Maurice Golden said: ‘There is a growing list of voices from within the independence movement saying now is not the time for another independence referendum.’
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: ‘For somebody who’s been such a big donor to tell the SNP leadership there shouldn’t be a referendum is something that will strike at the heart of the independence movement.’
The SNP declined to comment yesterday.