INDYREF: JOHNSTONE SAYS CBI APPROACH TO EQUALITY DISAPPOINTS
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's economy committee, today expressed disappointment at comments to the committee by the Scottish boss of big business lobby group the CBI.
As part of the committee's inquiry into Scotland's economic future, Ms Johnstone asked Iain McMillan to justify his organisation's view that Scotland in the Union is an "economic success story" in light of growing inequality and 200,000 children living in poverty.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
"It was extremely disappointing that when questioned about the need to reduce inequality in society the boss of the CBI appeared to say he didn't understand the meaning of the word. He went on to talk about philanthropy which, while welcome, can never properly address the structural flaws in an economy that leaves so many people behind.
"It is clear to me a Yes vote gives a real opportunity to close the appalling gap between the rich and the rest of society. By taking responsibility for our economy we could choose to support small, indigenous businesses, and grow the kind of well-paid, secure jobs that corporate interests often don't provide."