Thursday 28 August 2014

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, WE CAN DO BIGGER?

But... is it no gonna run oot?
Not according to "that man on the telly"
So… yesterday much was made of the fact that 130 bosses of Scottish business came out in favour of the NoThanks campaign or whatever it’s called at the moment.

And today 200 Scottish business leaders have backed independence in an open letter to the Herald.

Brian Souter of Stagecoach, Clyde Blowers boss Jim McColl, and retired William Hill chief executive Ralph Topping are among the signatories who argue independence is in Scotland's economic interest. 
The letter reads: "We are involved in business and entrepreneurship at different levels in Scotland and around the world. We believe independence is in the best interests of Scotland's economy and its people.

"We will gain the powers to give our many areas of economic strength even more of an advantage in an increasingly competitive world. There will be more opportunities for our talented and determined young people to stay and succeed here in Scotland."

The letter goes on to talk about the real possibility of a British exit from the European common market and the damage that that would do to Scottish business.

[Perhaps that has been made all the more real a threat with today’s news that a right wing Tory MP has finally left the Conservatives and moved to Ukip. (Incidentally, much to his credit instead of crossing the floor as many MPs have done, he has resigned his seat and will stand as a Ukip candidate at a by election. Cameron must be cross!!)]

The signatories go on to say that they believe Westminster governments do not and never will pay sufficient attention to the interests of Scotland's economy. They talk about the tax raids on the oil industry (Danny Alexander, I believe) and the pension fund raids by Gordon Brown’s government, which were short term financial solutions to Westminster’s lack of cash, but lacked any kind of long term strategic thinking.

Scottish industry, they said, is so often treated as a cash cow rather than a strategically important part of a more prosperous and a fairer society.
Uncertainty is what the future is about.
Yesterday’s letter from pro-Union business leaders highlighted the uncertainties that surround leaving the UK  and they trotted out the tired old argument that by continuing to work together we could keep Scotland flourishing. I’m not sure that “keep” is an appropriate word. I’m reminded of the gentleman at THE debate who asked Darling: “If we are going to be better together in the Uk, why are we not better together now?”


In other news Mr Carmichael said that in the event of a Yes vote, something just a few weeks ago he hadn’t contemplated, he will resign from the government and work with the Scottish team to get the best deal for Scotland. I read a tweet about Dougie Alexander who, apparently said on BBC that in the event of a Yes vote, he would walk away from Scotland.  Awwww.

Incidentally, I've just noticed THIS article on the sidebar blog list. This is us being Better Together with the UK from a business point of view.


Signatories to the letter¨(in alphabetical order)

Harvey Aberdein, Managing Partner, Aberdein Considine
Sandy Adam, Chairman, Springfield Properties plc
Mohammed Afzal Ali, Director, Toor Investments
Irshad Ahmed, Director, Manspeak Ltd
Andrew Aird, MD of Border Couriers
Alistair Aitchison, Director, Kilted Kangaroo
Tony Aitken, Director, AP Aitken
Kenny Anderson, Co-Founder of Anderson Construction
David Anderson, Chief Executive, AP Systems
Ann and William Angus, Proprietors of Clunie Guest House
Lesley Ann Parker, Owner of Leap Scotland Ltd
Richard Arkless, Founder of LED Warehouse
Raja Aziz ur Rehman, Owner of R & M wholesale LTD
Tony Banks, Chairman of Business for Scotland and Balhousie Care
Frances Barron, Owner of Dessert Depot
Alistair Barron, Director, Barron Wright Partnerships
Alan Beck, Owner of Alan Beck Product Design Ltd
Craig Bedworth, MD of CGB Translations
Jim Bennett, Director of SIS Scotland
Ian Blackford, MD of First Seer
Ian Bremner, MD of Youngson Insurance Consultants
John Buchan Skipper, Fairline Surveyor, Aberdeen
Patrick Byrne, CEO of Pursuit Marketing
David Cairns, Chairman of Prism Tech
Alistair Cameron, Managing Director, Scotmas Group
Gen Cannibal, Director, Pro Genus Environmental

Mary-Anne Case, Proprietor, Blackhall Framing Gallery
Allan Chalmers, Director Chalmers Commercial Finance Ltd
Neil Clapperton, Managing Director, Springbank Distillery
Laurie Clark, Founder of ASC Group Ltd
Alan Clark, Owner of Clark’s Bakery
John Clark, Owner, Belmont Communications Ltd
Graeme Coghill, MD of Aberdeen Group Ltd
Ben Cooper Owner, Kenetics
Bob Costello, Sidlaw Executive Travel
Bill Coull, CEO at Comtest Wireless Europe
Gillian Cowan, Owner of the The Jewell Room
Paddy Crerar, CEO of Crerar Hotels
Gordon Darge, Proprietor of MAK Architects
Adam Davidson, Bo Concept, Scotland
Peter De Vink, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Financial General Holdings
Alan Dickson, Director, Bradshaw’s Nursery
Elaine Donegean, MD of Wedding Wise
Andy Donnell, Owner of Lightning PC’s
Scott Downie, Managing Director of Hungry Boy Productions Ltd
Peter Drummond, Director, Peter Drummond Architects
Colin Dunn, Director, Plexus Media
Brian Durkin, Braid Wines and Altar Supplies
David Dwyer, Inspire Web Development
Andrew Fairlie, Chef Proprietor, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
Shahid Farooq, Director, Smartways
Tricia Fox, MD, Volpa Marketing
Athole Fleming , MD of Athole Design
Paul Fletcher, Managing Partner, at Enabling Innovation
Alasdair Forbes, Primary Partner, Achvaneran Farm Partnership
Hugh Fraser, Managing Partner (Middle East), global energy law firm, former Group Head of Legal Wood Group
Kevin Gibney, Director, Get-A-Reel.com
John Gibson, Director, Broxburn Properties
Alistair Gilchrist, Founder, AJG Business Consultancy Ltd
Donald Gillies, Owner, Gillies Transport Islay
Andrew Graeme, CEO of Inchbrakie Group
Sir Patrick Grant of Dalvey, MD of Grants of Dalvey
Cynthia Guthrie, Joint MD of Guthrie Group
David Halliday, Owner of David Halliday Solicitor
David Hanley, Director, Competence Matters
Kat Heathcote, Director , Witherby Publishing Group
Gordon Henderson, Owner, Foxlane Garden Centre
Joe Henry, Founding Director, Planys Cloud Limited
Bobby Hill, Chief Executive, Hydracrat
John Hunter-Paterson, Owner of John Hunter Paterson Insurance
Dr. Arshi Ilyas, Director of Innovation Business Ltd.
Carole Inglis, Owner, Isle of Skye Fudge and Chocolate Company
John Innes, British Venture Capitalist of the Year and Venture Capital Chief Executive of the Year, former Chief Executive Amor Group
David Keegan, Director of Bothy Bikes
Kevin Key, Director, A Star Sports
Alan Knight, Director of Invisible Emperors
David Lafferty, Owner, Aqua Energy
Joe Lafferty, MD of Lifetree
Steven J Lawrence, Director, TCD Architects
Ian Lawson, MD of Pest Protection Services
Derek Louden, Financial Director& Company Sector, ITP Solutions Ltd
Alison Mabon Founder, DM Roofing
Iain Macbeath, Owner, Macbeath Architects
Dan MacDonald, Chief Executive MacDonald Estates
Professor Sir Donald MacKay, Former Chairman, Scottish Enterprise, founding director of an oil company and a bank and non-executive director, Malcolm Group
Colin MacKinnon, Owner, Strathaven Airfield
Marie Macklin, Chief Executive, Klin Group
Donald Maclean, MD, Business Cost Conusltants
Niall Maclean, Director, Geo-Rope
Lewis Maclean, MD of Maclean’s Highland Bakery
Alex MacLeod, Director, AG Tech Limited
William MacMillan, Director, Firth Plumbing, Heating and Roofing.
Graeme Macmillan, Owner, Macmillan Financial Planning
Mohammed Mahmood, Director, M & K Scotland Ltd
Mark Mair, MD of Skibo Technologies
Khalil Malik, Director, K Malik & Co Accountants
Nasim Malik, Managing Director, GFS Mortgages
Derek Mallon, MD of the Restaurant Group
Brandon Malone, Solicitor Advocate and law firm partner
Jack Marshall, Director, Tapside Coffee
Sir George Mathewson Chairman, Toscafund and former Chairman and Chief Executive, Royal Bank of Scotland plc
Jim McColl, Chairman and CEO of Clyde Blowers plc
Gerry McCusker, Owner, Dog Digital
Helen McDonough, Owner, Kennedy + Co Hair
Ian McDougall Owner, McDougall Johnston
Gordon McFarlane, Owner of Uplift Media
James McGoochin, Director, J.M. Builders.
Ron McGregor, Co-Founder McGregor Garrow Architects
Ivan McKee, Partner, Partner, Greenfold Partners
Duncan McKellar, Owner, McKellar Sub Sea
Fiona McKenzie, Director and Co-Founder, Centre Stage Music Theatre
Sheila McLean, Director, Muriel Management Ltd
Brian McManus, Managing Partner Pisces Engineering Services
Ian and Thea McMillan, Directors, Chambers McMillan Architects Ltd
Isabell McNicoll, Owner, Business Time Saver
Les Meikle, Owner, Wise Property Care
James Meldrum, Proprietor of Mel Décor
Robert Miller Director , McAdam King Glasgow
Morag Milligan, Operations Manager, Milligan’s Coach Hire
David Morrison, Director, Sangobeg
Barry Morrison, Owner of Barry Morrison Timber Harvesting Ltd
Stephen Mulhern, Owner of Lendrick Lodge
Brian Munro, Owner, Pat Munro Construction
Jil Murphy, Co-Founder Thin Red Line Design
Alan Murphy, Owner of Inverness Cash Registers
Ron Murray, Founder, Safety Scotland
Yvonne Murray Director, Northern Roots Events
Omar Nabi, Director, Ahmad & Nabi McMulan
Muhammad Naveed, Managing Partner, Clyde Accountants
Mian Naveed Qasar, Chief Executive, Vision International Ltd
Alan Neill, Director, Neill Technical Services
Bruce Newlands, Director , Kraft Architecture
Richard Nicol, Chief Executive Commsworld
Douglas Norris, MD Of Datec
Mairi Oakley, Owner of Darach
Eunice Olumide, Entrepreneur
Eddie O’Neill, Owner, Translations for Industry
Gillian & Kevin O’Neill, Founder of 29 Studios
Sandy Orr, Co-Founder, Mint Hotels
Mike Peddie, Owner of Secret Scotland
Dr. Mireille Pouget, Director of Erin
Professor Nathu Puri, Founder, Purico
Jamie Rae, Chief Executive, Craignish Development Group
Frank Ralph, Shorline Motors and Property Limited
Mohammed Ramzan, Chairman, United Wholesale Grocers
Anne Rendall, Vine Marketing Group
Nighet Riaz, Owner of Riaz Property
Andrew Richardson, Owner Tax Assist Accountants
Mark Riddell, MD of M3 Networks
Jan Robertson, Manager of Willow Bank House
Andrew Robertson MD, 1st Eco Tech Ltd
Michelle Rodger, Founder of Tartan Cat Communications
Vivienne Rollo, Owner, Kishorn Seafood Bar
Bill Samuel, Private investor
Jim Savage, Director, Chemikal Records
James Scott, Former Executive Director, Scottish Financial Enterprise
Adrian Searle, Co-Founder of Freight Books / Freight Design
Ashfaq Shaq, Director, A Shah & Co Ltd
Kenneth Shaw, Owner, Canape Wines
Mark Shaw, Chief Executive, Hazledene Group
Kevan Shaw, Owner of KSLD
Tommy Sheppard, Director of Salt’n’Sauce Promotions
Muhammad Shoaib, Shoaib Associates
Alan Simpson, Owner of Minute Man Press Paisley
Helen and Mark Smith, Directors, Montana Home Care
Mark Sorsa-Leslie, Director, Zargonic
Sir Brian Souter, Chairman of Stagecoach Group plc
Stewart Spence, Owner of Marcliffe Hotel
Jim Spowart, Founder, Standard Life Bank and Intelligent Finance
Alasdair Stephen, Director Owner, Hebridean Homes
Neil Stephen, Partner, Dualchas Building Design
Philip Stewart Owner, Kangaroo Print
Gary Sutherland, Director, Harrowden IT
Neil Sutherland, MD, Makar Ltd.
William Tait, Director, Klondyke Fishing Company Limited
Frank Taylor, Owner of Indigo Sun
Robert Taylor, Director, Iformis Ltd.
Michelle Thomson, Director, Your Property Shop
Christine and Robert Thomson, Owners of Cairngorms Solutions Ltd
Ralph Topping, Retired as Chief Executive of William Hill plc this month
Angus Tulloch, Edinburgh Fund Manager
David Urquhart, Founder of David Urquhart Travel
Malcolm Wadia, Director, Plysim
Abdul Wahid, Director, Kashmir Stores Ltd
Dr. Jim Walker, Chief Executive, Asianomics Group
Gerry Wallace, MD, GEM Lift Services
James Wallace, Owner of Alba Business Service
Euan Walls, Owner of Innovate Create
Terry Walls, MD of TEW Stationers
Ron Warbrick, MD of Frame Shop and Gallery
Dennis Webster, MD of Fireisk
Fergus Weir, MD of Teclan Ltd
Robertson Wellen, Proprietor, Ferintosh
Allan Whiteside, MD, Direct Line Timber
Willie Wilson, Owner, Thistle Pharmacies
David Wood, Owner, Northern Oils Group
Ivan Wood, Director, Ivan Wood and Sons Ltd
Ronnie Young, Director of Aquatron Ltd
Lorna Young, Owner, Indigo Words
Muzaffar Yusaf, Owner, Yusaf Co. Ltd

8 comments:

  1. tris

    Brian Souter of Stagecoach...Oh do come he is a renegade homophobe we will disregard any thing he says in the name of human decency.

    Why is a letter signed by the individuals who only seek to exploit the sweated labour of the free Scottish peoples to be praised ???
    The fact is they have only put name to paper due to the agreement with the snp that they will deliver
    Privatisation of key public sector industries
    De-regulation i.e. allow more competition
    Reduced power of trades unions
    Income tax cuts
    welfare cuts

    If the snp win the referendum


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "A renegade homophobe"?

      He's religious, daein whit he's telt by Papa in Rome.

      Is the Pope a renegade?

      Delete
    2. I seem to recall a certain Des Browne from the Labour Party who was remarkably Secretary of State for War and for Scotland getting off with voting against his own government on matters which the Pope saw fit to interfere with... stem cell research.

      I don't think religion should come into making laws, but it does, and it does for all parties.

      I think the word renegade is pretty inappropriate there.

      Delete
  2. Niko stop making a fuss over homophobia. Every side has it. It has to do with thier religious faith.

    Yesterday you were praising the 130 businesses which wanted to stay in England. Today you condemn business because every businessman is indecent.

    Really your arguments are becoming threadbare.

    The SNP, incidentally, isn't contesting the referendum and more than the Tories are or Labour is.

    Or what's that other wee party with that wee Willie bloke... They used to ahve some seats?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tris

      I asked wot you thought on the 130 businesses which wanted to stay in England. not what my opinion is...

      Allex has said he is seeking a mandate from the referendum to keep the pound wots that if not a plea for snp rule ????

      Delete
    2. Alex is the First Minister. In 1016 Johann Lamont or rather her successor may well be the first minister. maybe it will be Nicola, maybe Humza, maybe Stewart Hosie or Shona Robison...

      On the other hand it could be Jim Murphy or Douglas Alexander, even god help us, it might be Alistair Darling, lord Darling of Morningside.

      The Liberal SoS has offered to join the iScotland team ... Ruth Davidson has said she would back currency union... L for I want currency union in the short term... It's not just Alex.

      I was at a brilliant meeting tonight 5 speakers, and a chairman, five of them socialist (one a trades union leader), all speaking for Scotland and not a single SNP person in sight.

      Get over it. it's not about the SNP. It's a largely working class movement with a good number of lower and middle middle classes joining in, and a few upper middle class too.

      The SNP was the vehicle to get here. Labour was never going to do it.

      Delete
  3. Like the patronising Alice Darling pic, he he.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He scrubs up not too bad... although I don't fancy taking him home!!!

      Still, I expect he'll have to get home to lay out Paul's cereal dish for the morning.

      Eat your cereal Paul.

      Delete