Finance boss urges clarity on self-rule

DAVID Nish, the chief executive of Standard Life, has called for “clarity” on the independence issue.

He said there needed to be “clarity and certainty” on how an independent Scotland would impact on business and regulation, it was reported today.

He said: “We have been in Edinburgh over 180 years. We are proud of our Scottish heritage.

“[But] the one thing I will always keep under review is the competitiveness of our business.”

The Edinbugh-based company yesterday reported that its UK profits dropped 6 per cent last year as economic uncertainty and volatility returned to hit confidence.

The decline to £220 million was offset by cost cuts and a much stronger result in Canada as the business reported a better-than-expected 28 per cent rise in full-year profits to £544m.