Scotch whisky producers call for ‘no’ vote

A number of Scotch whisky producers, including the CEO of Edrington, have joined other business leaders in strengthening calls for a “no” vote during the Scottish referendum on independence.

An open letter speaking out against Scottish independence has been signed by a number of leading Scotch whisky executives

Ian Curle, CEO of The Famous Grouse and The Macallan Scotch whisky producer Edrington, and Peter Gordon, chairman of Glenfiddich maker William Grant & Sons, signed an open letter along with other leading businessmen with Scottish operations, stating that a business case for independence had “not been made”.

Other signatories from the Scotch whisky business include: Robert Anderson, CEO of the Tomatin Distillery; Gavin Hewitt, former CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association; Fraser Thornton, managing director of Burn Stewart Distillers; James Espey, owner and managing director of The Last Drop Distillers Ltd; Leonard Russell, managing director of Ian Macleod Distillers; Graham Stevenson managing director of Inver House Distillers; Keith Falconer, chairman of the Adelphi Distillery; Drew McKenzie Smith, managing director of The Lindores Distillery Company; and Ian P. Bankier, executive chairman of Glenkeir Whiskies Limited.

The business leaders said that “uncertainty is bad for business”, adding that they felt “uncertain” over “vital issues” such as currency, regulation, tax, pensions, EU membership and support for exports.

Economic ties

“Our economic ties inside the United Kingdom are very close and support almost one million Scottish jobs,” the leaders said in an open letter published in the Scotsman newspaper.

“The rest of the UK is Scotland’s biggest market by far. As job creators, we have looked carefully at the arguments made by both sides of the debate. Our conclusion is that the business case for independence has not been made.”

“The United Kingdom gives business the strong platform we must have to invest in jobs and industry. By all continuing to work together, we can keep Scotland flourishing.

This is the largest number of Scotch whisky producers to have weighed in on the Scottish independence debate to-date.

In May this year, David Frost, current CEO of the SWA issued a statement warning about the potential risks a “yes” vote poses to the Scotch industry, while his predecessor, Gavin Hewitt, has long been a outspoken opponent of independence, but claimed he was pressured into silence by the ruling Scottish National party.

Meanwhile, William Grant & Sons expressed its position by donating a “substantial sum” of money to the campaign against Scottish independence, Better Together.

Other business leaders who signed the open letter include: HSBC chairman Douglas Flint, Audrey Baxter, executive chairman of Baxters Food Group and Weir Group chief executive Keith Cochrane, who first proposed the letter.

Scottish citizens will vote in the independence referendum on 18 September.