Remaining part of the UK gives Scottish companies “more opportunities to thrive” and create jobs, Alistair Darling has said.
The leader of the pro-union Better Together campaign said there is “security, strength and stability” for small businesses within the UK.
Speaking ahead of a visit to White House Products, an engineering firm in Inverclyde, Darling said independence would create “barriers” between Scottish businesses and customers in the rest of the UK.
“Being part of the UK is good for Scotland’s small businesses,” he said.
“Our single market means businesses like this can buy and sell throughout the whole of the UK without any restrictions.
“Where is the sense in putting up barriers between Scottish businesses and their customers and suppliers elsewhere in the UK?
“Today our small businesses, which are the bedrock of the Scottish economy, benefit from the strength, security and stability of the UK pound. Only independence would put this at risk.”
The former chancellor also reiterated his position on the pound following reports that an anonymous minister had suggested that it would be shared in the event of a Yes vote.
“No matter what the nationalists assert, if we leave the UK we lose the pound. It’s as simple as that,” Darling said.
“The nationalists might want to treat this most fundamental issue as a big game of politics, but for small businesses they need clear answers about what would replace the pound. Would we rush to adopt the euro or set up a separate unproven currency?
“Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that a currency union would involve no change for the rest of the UK is wrong. We would move from a single currency across the whole of the UK to a position where two foreign governments would need to agree tax, spend and borrowing rates.
“That is exactly why a currency union is off the table. To suggest otherwise is simply not true.
“As part of the UK we can have the best of both worlds – our strong Scottish Parliament, with the guarantee of more powers, backed up by being part of the larger UK economy. The only thing putting this at risk is the nationalist obsession with breaking up the UK.”
White House Products managing director, Alastair MacMillan, said his business “will not be viable” outside the UK.
“We export all around the world from right here in Port Glasgow,” MacMillan said.
“Just 5% of our business is in Scotland, with around one third overall in the UK. Being part of the UK single market, with a single currency in the pound, sustains jobs in Scotland.
“The vast majority of our customers in the rest of the UK are small businesses who will not want the hassles of importing from a foreign country whether or not Scotland is admitted to the EU.
“This business in its present form will not be viable outside the United Kingdom.”
