A fragile neutrality in business circles on Scottish independence fractured yesterday as Standard Life threatened to move south of the Border, prompting warnings of wider boardroom concerns over a break-up of the United Kingdom.
Standard Life revealed that it was making contingencies for a possible move south if the “yes” campaign prevailed in September’s referendum, after fielding inquiries from English customers and independent financial advisers about the future of their pensions and savings if Scotland goes it alone.
“The politicians on either side can say what they want; I’m not evaluating the two sides,” David Nish, chief executive of Standard Life, said. “One of the things you don’t want to have in business is uncertainty. All we’re doing is taking precautionary steps. I can’t define