Indyref 2 would be ‘foolhardy’, tycoon Sir Tom warns Sturgeon
ONE of Scotland’s leading businessmen has urged the SNP not to hold a second independence referendum, claiming it would be ‘foolhardy’ to do so.
Sir Tom Hunter said he ‘can’t quite understand’ why the Scottish Government is eager to take the country out of the UK despite it being ‘our biggest trading union’.
The billionaire also claimed that, rather than helping businesses, another referendum would only add to the uncertainty following Brexit.
His comments yesterday come days after the First Minister disclosed her plans to keep Scotland in the European single market, even if the rest of the UK leaves.
Nicola Sturgeon is exploring a number of ways to do this, including joining the European Free Trade Association – a sister organisation of the EU comprising Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
However, this plan has been described as ‘complex’ as it would require the backing of all 27 EU nations.
Miss Sturgeon has said repeatedly that a second Scottish independence referendum is now ‘highly likely’ following Brexit and she claims that it is one of the options to keep Scotland in the single market she is pursuing.
But this plan has been criticised by some of her colleagues and experts.
Sir Tom, who never publicly backed either the Yes or No independence referendum campaigns, said: ‘I really do think it would be the wrong thing to bring up another independence referendum at this point. I’m not saying never, just not now.
‘There’s enough uncertainty for us all to deal with. I can’t quite understand why the Government wants to take us out of the one union which is our biggest trading union, but keep us in another one.’
He dismissed claims that as 62 per cent of voters north of the Border had backed remaining in the EU in the Brexit vote another referendum on Scotland’s place in the Union should take place. Sir Tom, who made millions through the sale of his Sports Division company, said: ‘I actually think the reverse – with this uncertainty about Brexit no one really know what it’s going to mean from a commercial point of view.
‘There are going to be so many things to be worked out that to add Scottish independence on top would be foolhardy.’
He also disclosed that Brexit has not affected his plans to continue investing in sites and businesses in the UK.
Sir Tom’s Hunter Foundation offered impartial advice during the 2014 independence referendum. He released a booklet with a breakdown of information on key issues in the debate with help from leading academics.
Only days before the vote he said he was still undecided and that the decision was ‘too important to leave to politicians to inform us’.
Last night, his latest comments were backed by Glasgow Tory MSP Annie Wells, who called on the SNP to ‘break the habit of a lifetime’.
She said: ‘It really is time for the SNP to listen. Another referendum would cause even more uncertainty when businesses can least afford it.
‘The Scottish Government should break the habit of a lifetime and do something helpful for Scotland’s businesses, by taking a referendum re-run off the table.’
However, the Scottish Government continued to argue that Brexit is a bigger threat to Scotland’s economy and jobs than independence.
A spokesman said: ‘Brexit is by far the biggest threat to Scotland’s jobs, prosperity and economy, which why we have always been clear that remaining members of the EU – and members of the world’s largest single market of more than 500 million people, which is around eight times bigger than the UK’s alone – is the best option for our future.
‘Given that a material constitutional change has occurred since 2014, the option of independence must remain on the table.
‘Without that option, Scotland would have to accept whatever decisions the UK Government makes, no matter how damaging they are to Scotland’s interests.’
Comment – Page 16
‘There’s enough uncertainty’