The chief executive of Barclays yesterday became the latest high-profile business chief to enter the independence debate – saying the bank could “make it work either way”.
Antony Jenkins said the independence referendum in September was a “matter for the Scottish people”.
His remarks contrast with those of BP head Bob Dudley, who said last week that the oil and gas giant would face “quite big uncertainties” if Scots decided to go it alone.
Stewart Hosie, SNP Treasury spokesman at Westminster, said: “This is a commonsense approach from Barclays Bank.
“Of course, they will have technical questions that they will want answered, but they are right – this is a decision for the people of Scotland and I very much welcome the chief executive’s comments.”
A spokesman for the pro-UK campaign, Better Together said: “Mr Jenkins has made it clear that he has no view on the subject. However, expert after expert has lined up to dismiss Alex Salmond’s currency plan, pointing out the great damage it would cause to our financial- services sector.”
Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that Chancellor George Osborne is poised to make a speech about financial currency in an independent Scotland.
Asked yesterday why the UK Government had not completely ruled out a currency union, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The chancellor will be discussing this later in the week.
“What I’ve said so far is that I think it would be very difficult to justify a currency union post-independence but, you know, I think it’s important we set out these arguments in a rational way.”