Back in December one business leader was reported as saying “Most business leaders are keeping their heads down on this issue mainly due to the aggressive reaction any expressed negative opinion provokes from Alex Salmond and his cohorts.” While another said It is disgraceful what is going on, with SNP ministers putting in threatening phone calls to anyone in business who dares to ask legitimate questions, accusing them of being unpatriotic and trying to kill off criticism.”
It would seem many business leaders, entrepreneurs and bankers were checking they weren’t being overheard when talking about the independence , in case they are targeted for retribution by Alex Salmond’s nationalist administration if they supported the union. Some felt it was safer to say nothing than face the potential consumer boycotts by nationalist voters who might not like their views come irrespective of the vote on Thursday. Couple with this there were concerns about incurring the wrath of Scottish Nationalist Party politicians, in terms of smear campaigns instigated in the Scottish parliament and publicised in the media.
Last year when four of the United Kingdoms big supermarkets (Tesco, J Sainsbury, Wm Morrison and Asda) dared to raise their heads above the parapet. Senior supermarket executives warned that in the event of a Yes vote, Scottish consumers faced the possibility of higher food bills. This resulted in the following response on twitter from Stan Blackley, a member of the Yes campaign’s executive: “Wouldn’t it be great if Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons (and) Asda just left Scotland after Yes vote.” While one Scottish Nationalist Party councillor in Glasgow added that it was “time to boycott” the firms.
The reason the firms issued this warning is that increased prices would result due to increased costs of distribution in Scotland compared to the rest of the United Kingdom and because of the effects of International market. In response to the threats the chief executive of Asda explained his position in the media and Sottish Nationalist Party leadership claimed that his remarks proved he had retreated when he had not. He just stated the reasoning behind the statements that were released by the supermarkets.
Iain McMillan, director of CBI Scotland, which speaks on behalf of businesses, said that businesses are worried about talking publicly. The leaders of prominent businesses have been contacted by Scottish Government ministers, he says, and warned not to criticise Mr Salmond’s independence plans. Clearly business don't want to speak out because they know whatever the way the vote goes they will have to work with Alex Salmond's regimen and in the case of a yes vote for decades to come.
That was all back in December last year and little has changed accept that there fears have come true in terms of the smear campaigns and the threats to teach them a lesson come independence are being openly spoken about and reported in the press. This has created a climate of fear is extraordinary and quite sinister and I fear that businesses are right to be fearful.
Last week a number of major banks, financial institutions, telecommunications companies and supermarkets spoke about their fears for independence, with some moving operations out of Scotland while others talked of increased costs of the products they market. The response from one of Alex Salmond, right hand man, Jim Sillars, showed the true colours of the Scottish Nationalist Party and that accusations of threats back in December were correct and the fears of businesses were well founded.
Tim Sellars threaten to nationalise BP operations in part or as whole in Scotland if the company didn't do as it was told, he further said that if the company wants to extract wants extract the potential oil fields west of Shetland "it will have to learn to bend the knee to a greater power". As for the banks he threatened them with splitting them up and warned Scotland won't bail them out if they fail. While financial institutions have been threatened with employment laws which require them to give two notice of relocation and redundancies. Finally he said "What kind of people do these companies think we are? They will find out."
What is more interesting is when the truth came out when Jim Sillars said "This referendum is about power, and when we get a Yes majority, we will use that power". Although he was talking about business it show what the Scottish Nationalist Party want, and its not power for the people but power for the party. Power they will have for decades to come with no real opposition in Scotland. That is one of things the people of Scotland need to think about tomorrow. Do they want a party in power that puts themselves above the needs of the nation that need to rule by fear and bullying.
Alex Salmond is a skilled campaigner and he has dedicated his life and career to winning a vote on separating Scotland from England. Having got this far, winning an overall majority for the Scottish Nationalist Party at the last Scottish parliament elections and engineering a referendum on the Union he will let nothing get in his way. Clearly he won’t opposition from the business community that might sway voters worried about jobs and prosperity, especially when they are right to be worried about doing business in Scotland given Jim Sillars remarks and the uncertainty and ecomonic questions that remain unanswered.
Nationalism at all costs won't make Scotland a fair a place, it won't make it a better place to live or work, it won't give the people jobs. Those things won't come from socialism which has failed in so many counties in the past and will fail in Scotland too. Capitalism might not be perfect, but nor is socialism, communism or fascism. What does work is being free to speak out, make your voice heard and to change the system, something you can't do when you live in fear and you are subjected to political bullying.
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