FMQs: Alex Salmond urged to reveal business backers

Johann Lamont says the Scottish Government should say which business owners back independence. Picture: TSPL

Labour leader Johann Lamont made the call at First Ministers Questions after the chief executive of oil giant BP Bob Dudley this week voiced his personal opposition to a Yes vote in the referendum.

The First Minister has previously said “many, many chief executives back Scottish independence.”

And the Labour leader demanded their identities were revealed today.

“Can the First Minister name the many, many chief executives of companies comparable to BP who back independence?” she said.

Mr Salmond insisted the pro-independence Business for Scotland organisation has “hundreds of people arguing for independence.”

He added that the BP chief had made it clear that the firm’s ongoing investment in the North Sea would keep oil flowing “beyond 2050.”

The SNP leader added: “Thanks to the investment that’s going in, Oil and Gas UK forecast that production could reach 2 million barrels by the end of the decade - up from 1.5 million barrels a day in 2013.

“I think investment talks.”

Sainsbury chief executive Justin King also warned this week that independence would make Scotland more costly to run a business, after similar concerns have previously been voiced by Morrisons and Asda.

The Labour leader added: “It matters to shopworkers the length and breadth of the country.

“The chief executives of Sainsbury, Asda, Morrisons have all warned about the consequence of independence.”