Scots pro-union business body bolsters advisors as independence referendum looms

A Scots pro-union business organisation has appointed three new members to its advisory council, it emerged today.

Pamela Nash has joined the SBUK advisory council

Scottish Business UK (SBUK) has recruited former Labour MP Pamela Nash, who now heads up the Scotland in Union political campaign group.

Kenneth MacKenzie, founder and chief executive of Stirling-based Target Fund Managers Ltd has also been appointed, along with Bill Toner, chief executive of national catering company CH&CO.

The appointments come as consistent polling shows a majority of Scots now support independence and Nicola Sturgeon has recently unveiled plans to publish legislation setting out the terms and timing for a second referendum on leaving the UK.

Ms Nash said: "As a political campaigner, over the years many business owners across Scotland have expressed to me their concerns about the SNP’s campaign for Scotland to leave the UK.

"Businesses are at the forefront of efforts to rebuild our economy and create jobs, and the last thing that employers need is further uncertainty."

SBUK is a non-party body that is headed up by care homes boss Robert Kilgour and represents businesses which want Scotland to stay in the UK.

Mr MacKenzie said: “It has always seemed strange to me that we Scots would raise barriers with our natural partners and investors across the UK with whom we share language, values and have a shared culture and history."

He went on: "We are continually engaged in the care market across the United Kingdom and the last thing we need is more complexity and confusions from our politicians."

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