Former NATO secretary general says Scottish independence would be “cataclysmic” April 8, 2014 Scottish independence would be "cataclysmic" for the West and would be celebrated by Britain's enemies, according to the former secretary general of Nato, Lord Robertson. Speaking at the Brookings Institute, Lord Robertson said global stability could be threatened by a "debilitating divorce" between the UK and Scotland. Taking the debate over independence well beyond the [...]
Scottish independence could impact results says Centrica March 27, 2014 Energy giant Centrica has warned of the consequences of a yes vote in Scotland's independence referendum as well as political interference in the energy market. The company made the comments in its annual financial report for the year to 20 February 2014. In the event that Scotland became independent parts of Centrica's upstream assets would [...]
BAE Systems raises concerns over Scottish independence March 20, 2014 Defence giant BAE Systems has announced a profit before tax of £422m for the year ended 31 December. The figure is significantly down from the £1.2bn the company enjoyed last year. The company had a one off impairment charge this year relating to the accounting of goodwill in parts of its US business – that [...]
The big independence lie: Why Scotland could keep the pound March 11, 2014 Truth is usually the first casualty of political battles, as it is of war. I believe that Scotland and England are individually stronger for being part of the UK, but 25 years in currency markets tell me that the No campaign’s argument that Scotland cannot keep the pound is false. It would certainly be a [...]
BA boss says Scottish independence could be good for business February 28, 2014 The chief executive of International Airline Group (IAG) Willie Walsh has become the first CEO of a major company to say that Scottish independence may be good for business. Speaking to the BBC, Walsh said: If anything, it will be slightly positive, since we believe (an independent Scotland) will abolish Air Passenger Duty (APD). The [...]
Scottish independence is WPP’s new “grey swan” threat February 27, 2014 The “grey swans”, or known unknowns, are a regular feature of WPP’s results statements. Sir Martin Sorrell’s advertising outfit said today that most of the recent global swans are becoming whiter, as Chinese fragility and the prospects for the Middle East become less of a worry. But the Scottish referendum has made an appearance as [...]
Standard Life warns independence may see it quit Scotland February 27, 2014 Insurance giant Standard Life has become the first major Scottish business to warn that it may relocate its operations to England should Scotland vote for independence. In the company's annual report for 2013, chairman Gerry Grimstone said: We have been based in Scotland for 189 years and we are very proud of our heritage. Scotland [...]
Maria Miller just came up with the most convincing case for Scottish independence yet February 26, 2014 Culture secretary Maria Miller must really want a yes vote. Speaking today at the Oxford Media Convention the cabinet minister said that if Scotland does vote for independence this September, it will be a vote to leave the institutions of the UK. That, Miller says, would include leaving the BBC. We're sold. A Scottish independence [...]
Westminster attacks Scotland’s independence finance claims December 18, 2013 THE SCOTTISH government’s plan for independence includes a £1.3bn hole, the Treasury claimed yesterday, ramping up London’s campaign for a no vote in next year’s referendum. A plan published last month by Holyrood argues an independent Scotland would have a lower national debt and lower budget deficit as a proportion of GDP than the remainder of [...]