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Barrhead boss: Independence would have been a car crash for Scotland
Bill Munro, diretor of Scotland-based Barrhead Travel, said Scottish independence would have been a disaster for Scotland.
Speaking at his relief at the ‘no’ vote last Thurday, Munro said "It would have been a car crash, a catastrophe."
Munro, who was criticised in the media for circulating a memo to all Barrhead staff warning them of the consequences of a ‘yes’ vote for the company, said he was so relieved he had to keep pinching himself because he was so worried Scotland would vote in favour of leaving the UK.
And he revealed he had met with UK Prime Minister David Cameron shortly before the election and warned him that he was underestimating the Scottish pysche.
"I told him I know the Scottish people, their emotions… he only started taking this seriously two weeks before the election."
Munro said one of his chief concerns if Scotland had torn free of the Union was the mess it would leave of consumer financial protection.
"I think from a regulation pont of view it would have been a nightmare," he said, adding that it was unlikely travel companies in Scotland would still have been part of the ATOL-system.
There was also the uncertaintly over border issues.
"It takes an hour and a half to get through the border between Croatia and Montenegro," he said, refering to two countries that were previously part of Yugoslavia, along with Slovenia where this week’s Travel Convention is being held.
"It could have been a nightmare for us."
Munro said he was "very, very relieved" it was a ‘no’ vote but expressed concern that there could be another vote on the issue in 10 years time, and that, in the meantime, Scotland will be given greater powers over income tax.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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