Lost opportunities

In retracting his comments that businesses are “fed up” with Nicola Sturgeon’s independence obsession, Highland Spring CEO Les 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 who attended were unanimously opposed to independence and catastrophic business rate rises, 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 over 80 per cent of the 800 businesses who 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, Institute of Directors, SCDI and the various trade organisations should speak out on behalf of their members.

The second opportunity that Montgomery missed is the chance to increase sales. Eighty-five per cent 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? ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven Occasionally I think it might be quite nice if Scotland became independent, Scot’s wha’ ha’e an’ that an’ that.

When I sober up I realise that independence will be an economic disaster for Scotland. I wonder if any SNP supporters have the same affliction.

A A BULLIONS Glencairn Crescent, Leven