Key retailers are planning a joint warning of higher
business costs should Scotland vote "Yes" as the war of words heats
up.
A
letter written by the head of the Kingfisher group is expected to be published
in the next 48 hours.
It
is thought further signatories will include the heads of John Lewis, Asda and
Marks and Spencer.
Others,
including Gordon Macintyre Kemp of Business for Scotland, say concerns about
price rises are unfounded.
A
former boss of Sainsbury's and the bosses of Asda and John Lewis have already
suggested that prices could rise in an independent Scotland.
Against
that, the boss of JD Wetherspoon, the UK pub chain, has accused business
leaders and politicians of talking
"nonsense" over independence
worries.
Speaking
on Friday, Tim Martin said: "Scotland could do very well on its own".
Differential
The
head of the John Lewis Partnership, which includes Waitrose, said on Thursday
that it was "most probable" that higher costs will be passed on to
customers in Scotland if the country votes "Yes" to independence.
Sir
Charlie Mayfield said: "When we are talking about two separate countries
it is most probable that retailers will start pricing differently."
BBC
business editor Kamal Ahmed said that the potential price differentials between
Scotland and the rest of the UK would create a competitive market: "What would
happen if Scotland becomes independent is that if the British-based retailers
started charging more then new retailers will appear who will start charging
less. It will be a dynamic situation."
BBC
Business
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