Business leaders '˜fed up' with independence '˜distraction'

Business leaders are 'fed up' with Nicola Sturgeon's quest for independence and want her to focus instead on administering the country rather than constitutional change, says the boss of a leading Scottish brand.

Highland Spring boss Les Montgomery said the Scottish Government should be focusing on employment and investment. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

Les Montgomery, chief executive of bottled water firm Highland Spring, said Holyrood should also prioritise helping the UK Conservative government achieve the best possible Brexit outcome.

• READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon ‘resets’ indyref2 plans

“Businesses are fed up,” he said. “The Scottish Government should be getting on with the job they are there to do – focusing on employment, investment, those kinds of things.

“Independence isn’t the job that the Scottish Government is supposed to be doing.”

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Montgomery’s comments come after the First Minister confirmed that plans for a second referendum on independence are being put on hold – but left the door open for another ballot before 2021.

The Highland Spring chief welcomed that indyref2 was “off the table” for now, as he branded it “just a distraction”.

• READ MORE: Highland Spring sales boosted by bottled water demand

He added: “I have 600 people that I am responsible for and I am trying to do the best for them. I would think the Scottish Government should also try to do the best for the people as a whole.”

Bottling more than 500 million litres a year, Highland Spring is showing continued strong sales performance, with revenues of £103 million and pre-tax profits of £4.3m in 2015.

The company is ultimately owned by one of Scotland’s wealthiest men, Mahdi Al Tajir, who is worth £1.6 billion.

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