Whisky producers call on Scots to vote no to independence
Ian Curle, chief executive of Edrington, which owns Macallan and Famous Grouse and Peter Gordon, chairman of Glenfiddich producer, William Grant & Sons were among those to a sign an open letter published in The Scotsman newspaper yesterday.
The letter warns voters the referendum on 18 September will “affect our generation and the generations to come” and that “the business case for independence has not been made”.
It says: “Uncertainty surrounds a number of vital issues including currency, regulation, tax, pensions, EU membership and support for our exports around the world; and uncertainty is bad for business.”
Platform
It concludes: “The United Kingdom gives business the strong platform we must have to invest in jobs and industry. By all continuing to work together, we can keep Scotland flourishing".
The letter was signed by 130 business figures. Other signatories from the Scotch whisky sector include Robert Anderson, chief executive of the Tomatin Distillery; Gavin Hewitt, former chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association; Fraser Thornton, managing director of Burn Stewart Distillers; James Espey, owner and managing director of The Last Drop Distillers Ltd; Leonard Russell, managing director of Ian Macleod Distillers; Graham Stevenson managing director of Inver House Distillers; Keith Falconer, chairman of the Adelphi Distillery; Drew McKenzie Smith, managing director of The Lindores Distillery Company; and Ian P. Bankier, executive chairman of Glenkeir Whiskies Limited.
Today a response letter supporting independence was signed by 200 businesses including Neil Clapperton, managing director of Springbank Distillery. It insisted independence would give the country the power "to give our many areas of economic strength even more of an advantage in an increasingly competitive world".
