VIDEO: Chancellor says Borders would suffer under independence

Chancellor George Osborne has said that the Borders could be among the areas hardest hit economically by Scottish independence.
Chancellor George Osborne and MSP John Lamont met with local business owners at Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on Friday morning.Chancellor George Osborne and MSP John Lamont met with local business owners at Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on Friday morning.
Chancellor George Osborne and MSP John Lamont met with local business owners at Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on Friday morning.

Mr Osborne made the comment following a meeting with Borders businessmen and women in St Boswells on Friday morning.

The visit, which coincided with Independent Booksellers Week, was held at bookshop, delicatessen and cafe Mainstreet Trading Company.

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Mr Osborne and local MSP John Lamont heard about the issues facing local businesses of all sizes and from a wide range of sectors.

Chancellor George Osborne and MSP John Lamont met with local business owners at Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on Friday morning.Chancellor George Osborne and MSP John Lamont met with local business owners at Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on Friday morning.
Chancellor George Osborne and MSP John Lamont met with local business owners at Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on Friday morning.

Afterwards the Chancellor told us: “It has been a great opportunity to meet with John and local businesses to talk about what the UK Government can do to support small businesses, and businesses in rural areas, and the challenges they face.

“I want to make sure they have lower taxes and get all the help they need to create jobs in this area, and I think the challenges they brought up with me were the challenges of local transport, where they felt that the Holyrood Government hadn’t done enough to support transport in the Borders.

“They were worried about the impact of independence, should Scotland vote to become independent, and I think this would be one of the areas that would be hit hardest by the economic consequences of that, so it was interesting to talk to local businesses about that and it was just a fantastic opportunity to meet people who have built businesses, employ people and have given opportunities to folk in this area.

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“And, with a great local MSP, we have got lots of issues to work on.”

John Lamont MSP added: “Businesses in the Borders face a range of challenges unlike those in other areas.

“That’s why it was so important for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make this visit to hear what many of these companies had to say.”

Mr Lamont added: “Organisations in this area are successful through hard work, and the UK Government is offering to support that hard work and make it pay.

“By listening to their views today on the local economy, that bond will be strengthened further.”

For full story and pictures see next week’s paper.

For full story and pictures see next week’s paper.