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FORMER Labour cabinet minister Lord George Robertson warned against Scottish independence yesterday as it would be “very bad news” for the whisky industry
Lord Robertson said in a speech on his native island of Islay, where eight distilleries form the backbone of the local economy that the industry needed the “strength of the UK’s trade diplomacy” in the European Union and in the World Trade Organisation.
“Many of Islay’s distilleries are owned by multinational companies who want to sell Scotch in hundreds of international markets.
“They know that in the ruthlessly competitive alcoholic spirits market they need the protection and promotion of the UK’s formidable network of embassies and diplomats.”
A Scottish government spokesman said: “The UK’s planned in-out referendum on EU membership threatens our food and drink industry’s current access to Europe’s single market of 500 million citizens and 20m businesses — and only a vote for independence will secure our place in Europe.”
