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COMPANIES: Postscript Big names take sides on independence: Dear Scotland, please ignore previous letter
[August 30, 2014]

COMPANIES: Postscript Big names take sides on independence: Dear Scotland, please ignore previous letter


(Observer (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) They say that letter-writing is going out of fashion, but apparently not when it comes to the independence referendum in Scotland.

More than 130 prominent Scottish business leaders signed an open letter last week warning that the case for Scottish independence had not been made. The 133 signatories included bosses of some of the best-known brands in the UK - ranging from HSBC chairman Douglas Flint, Audrey Baxter of soup and food firm Baxters, and Ian Curle, chief executive of Edrington, makers of the Famous Grouse and Macallan whiskies.



Their effort was swiftly followed by the delivery of a counter-letter from 200 business leaders supporting independence, with signatories including Ralph Topping, the former chief executive of William Hill, and Tom Barrie, managing director of the logistics company Currie European. As Topping separately put it: "If I went to Australia and said 'you're making a shambles of this, wouldn't you be better back in the empire?' I'd get two black eyes." Captions: Ralph Topping: pro-independence.

(c) 2014 Guardian Newspapers Limited.

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