Former RBS chairperson says indyref shouldn’t be fought over Brexit

Former RBS chairperson Sir George Mathewson, a key business supporter of Scottish independence, has said the issue should not be “mixed up with Brexit”.

Sir George, speaking to The Sunday Times, said he shared the apprehensions of former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars, who said he wouldn’t back independence in a second referendum if it meant re-joining the EU.

Sir George said: “I would prefer to see Scotland independent, but how we get there, under what situation, is an issue.

“I have some concerns and sympathy with Jim Sillars’s view. I’m not a great lover of the EU. The whole independence issue has got mixed up with Brexit and I’m not sure I’m in favour of that.”

He added: “Brexit has to be decided quickly and I think independence will happen over a longer period after that. These issues are best decided over a long timescale.”