Swinney dismisses leading Highland businessman's Indy warning
Scotland’s Finance Secretary John Swinney has dismissed a millionaire Highland businessman’s warning that firms could be "derailed" if the country became independent.
Alan Savage, a former Caley Thistle chairman and the founder of the giant Orion recruitment group, had said that his Inverness-headquartered company could quit the Highlands, if a Yes vote was secured in September’s referendum.
The fierce independence critic, who donated £100,000 to the pro-union Better Together campaign last year, claimed "politicians were messing" about with the "absolutely crazy" referendum and said it was a huge distraction for businesses.
Mr Swinney, who outlined the prospect of independence with selected Highland businesses representatives, including Global Energy chairman Roy MacGregor, at a closed-doors event in Inverness yesterday, poured cold water on Mr Savage’s claims.
He said firms had already dealt with the credit crunch and recession, when asked if the campaign would derail Highland businesses, Mr Swinney replied: "I don’t think so at all. The business community will always wrestle with issues that are coming at the business community.
"Look at the last five years with the business challenges that have been thrown up by the consequences of the mismanagement of the economy by the United Kingdom government."
The former SNP party leader claimed Highland firms could actually benefit from the "enormous amount of interest" in the high-profile independence campaign.
"Clearly, the debate around independence is clearly putting Scotland on very much the media and global stage. That is something which will create economic benefit."
Mr Swinney insisted he did not know how the business attendees he met would vote come September but used the talks to outline the powers currently enjoyed by devolution, like setting business rates.
The finance secretary, who praised the "great strength" of the Highlands’ food and drink sectors and its renewables and life sciences industries, said it could do much more with full independence and wider financial powers.
"What we want to ensure is that we have an economic strategy in place that makes the most of all that," he said.
The finance secretary said full control of the welfare system could let an independent government improve links between social enterprises and benefit claimants to enable more people to move from economic inactivity into jobs.
Mr Savage said earlier this month that he expected his international business to face huge problems dealing with trade, tax and currency if independence was secured. "The uncertainties would be a nightmare - my business could be derailed in a matter of months in the doomsday scenario," said the Orion chairman.