Frost denies intimidation in independence debate

The CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has denied the group was pressured by nationalists to remain silent in the Scottish referendum debate.

David Frost, chief executive of the SWA, has said that he had not been intimidated into remaining silent in the independence debate

David Frost claimed that he was instead involved in a “frank and constructive” debate about the referendum on Scottish independence from the UK, which is set to take place in September.

His claims follow those of former SWA chief executive Gavin Hewitt, who told Channel 4 programme Dispatches that the Scottish National Party had pressured the SWA to not oppose independence.

Hewitt accused SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson of asking the SWA to “stay out of the independence debate”, a claim Robertson has denied.

However, Frost has recently published a statement claiming that the SWA have had “vigorous discussions” with regards to the debate, adding that these discussions have been “constructive”.

“I have had vigorous discussions with all sides of the debate, whether it’s the UK Government, the Scottish Government, or political organisations,” he said.

“All sides have forcefully made their case to us about how this debate impacts Scotch whisky, but those conversations have always been constructive.

“Admittedly, sometimes they have been ‘frank and constructive’, as diplomats say, but I have certainly never considered any of them to go beyond the bounds of what is reasonable.”

He added that the SWA had “absolutely not” been pressured into silence, while “no-one had suggested” that it should be.

“For our part, we recognise that what happens on 18 September is a decision for the people of Scotland as a whole,” said Frost. “So when business intervenes in the debate, it’s right that we do so to provide a business perspective.”

In its annual review released in May, the SWA warned of the “potential risks” to the Scotch industry if a “yes” vote is returned during the referendum.

“We are an international and export-focused industry and we see those risks as being around the loss of global support for those exports, about Scotland’s potential status and likely influence in the EU, and about the currency and the potential fragmentation of the UK domestic market,” said Frost.