Throwing away an opportunity

Sir, - In retracting his comments that businesses are “fed up” with Nicola Sturgeon’s independence obsession Highland Spring boss Joe Montgomery threw away two huge opportunities.

The first was to finish off the whole independence threat and set an example for Scottish business to speak out and force the SNP to scrape off this piece of chewing gum stuck to Scotland’s sole.

I recently attended a Scotland In Union business breakfast in Aberdeen.

The 44 businesses there opposed independence and the catastrophic rise in business rates, were eager for a quick solution to Brexit and looking for leadership from their various trade organisations on the subject.

The French Duncan survey in March this year was discussed.

It showed that more than 80% of the 800 businesses that responded were against independence, felt the country would be worse off and that the threat has impeded investment.

I’m sure most Scottish businesses want independence taken off the table permanently.

Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Institute of Directors, SCDI and the various trade organisations should speak out on behalf of their members.

The second opportunity Mr Montgomery missed was the chance to increase sales.

A whole 85% of his sales come from England.

If he had stuck to his guns the inevitable Tunnocks/Barrhead Travel-style boycott by Nationalists would have created a huge backlash and would have encouraged me and thousands of others to buy a few bottles in protest.

So what on earth did the Scottish Government say to Highland Spring that was so persuasive?

Or threatening?

Winston Churchill stated that: “Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the Ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind