CBI chief backs down on claim over referendum

CBI Scotland has been accused of misrepresenting the views of its members, after businesses appeared to distance themselves from its position on an early referendum on independence.

Last Monday, director Iain McMillan said its broader membership was “at one” with the group’s formal position that the question should be asked sooner than autumn 2014, the timescale preferred by First Minister Alex Salmond.

However, four of the 16 businesses at the meeting – wealth management firm Barclays Wealth; spirit company Edrington; wave energy company Aquamarine Power; and the Law Society of Scotland – have reportedly said they had expressed no such view publicly.

Mr McMillan amended his position yesterday to say that a preference for an early vote was the “most commonly occurring view expressed”.

SNP MSP John Wilson, deputy convener of Holyrood’s economy committee, said: “It is clear the CBI’s comment that it was ‘at one’ on referendum issues misrepresented some of the businesses it represents.”

Mr McMillan said: “I have no personal prejudices. My business is business advocacy to represent the views of the CBI.”

A Scotland Office spokesman said: “The comments of the CBI Scotland director to media reflected that accurately, and it is disappointing to see these sorts of tactics being used to misrepresent what was said.

“Of the four organisations commenting, three clearly state they have no view on the subject. It is difficult to see how anyone could construe that as a ‘U-turn’.

“We agree it is important the debate on Scotland’s future is conducted in an open and honest way, but the Scottish Government must let people state their opinions without being subject to this and the other forms of attack we have seen in recent days.”