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| Scottish independence: RBS confirms London HQ move if Scotland votes 'Yes' | Scottish independence: RBS confirms London HQ move if Scotland votes 'Yes' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed it will relocate its registered headquarters to London if Scotland votes for independence next week. | Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed it will relocate its registered headquarters to London if Scotland votes for independence next week. |
| The bank said in a statement that it believed it would be "necessary to re-domicile the bank's holding company". | The bank said in a statement that it believed it would be "necessary to re-domicile the bank's holding company". |
| In a letter to staff, the bank's chief executive said there was no intention to move operations or jobs. | In a letter to staff, the bank's chief executive said there was no intention to move operations or jobs. |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has accused the Treasury of leaking sensitive market data about RBS. | |
| Meanwhile, Scotland's largest fund manager's boss said an independent Scotland would be a huge success. | Meanwhile, Scotland's largest fund manager's boss said an independent Scotland would be a huge success. |
| Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management said: "I think an independent Scotland would be a big success, but it is a secret ballot and I will abide by that. | Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management said: "I think an independent Scotland would be a big success, but it is a secret ballot and I will abide by that. |
| "Most sensible people now accept that Scotland would be prosperous with either outcome in the current constitutional debate." | "Most sensible people now accept that Scotland would be prosperous with either outcome in the current constitutional debate." |
| RBS chief executive Ross McEwan sent a letter to staff on Thursday morning, which said he did not believe moving the bank's registered headquarters would have any impact on its everyday banking services. | |
| What have businesses been saying? | What have businesses been saying? |
| BBC news online has been tacking the views of business since the Scottish independence debate has been hotting up over the past few months. All have said it is up to the people of Scotland to decide their future. Some have sat on the fence, but others have been more forthright in their views. | BBC news online has been tacking the views of business since the Scottish independence debate has been hotting up over the past few months. All have said it is up to the people of Scotland to decide their future. Some have sat on the fence, but others have been more forthright in their views. |
| The letter stated: "It is my view as chief executive that any decision to move our registered headquarters would have no impact on our everyday banking services used by our customers in Scotland. | |
| "This is a technical procedure regarding the rotation of our registered head office based on our current strategy and business plan. It is not an intention to move operations or jobs. | |
| "Our current business in Scotland, including the personal and business bank, IT and operations, human resources and many other functions, are here because of the skills and knowledge of our people, and the sound business environment. | |
| "So far, I see no reason why this would change should we implement our contingency plans." | |
| Mr Salmond accused the Treasury of leaking details of an RBS notice to markets in breach of financial regulations. The first minister said he would write a letter of complaint to the head of the civil service and the prime minister. | |
| He said the leaking of such information was a clear breach of city rules which barred the release of such information before the markets opened at 07:00 and called for an official inquiry. | |
| The news was broadcast on the BBC at 22:00 on Wednesday evening and Mr Salmond said he expected the broadcaster to co-operate with the inquiry. | |
| At a press conference with the international media on Thursday, Mr Salmond was applauded as he mocked the BBC for its "impartial coverage", and accused the "metropolitan media" of recycling old news about RBS and Standard Life. | |
| RBS has been based in Scotland since 1727. | RBS has been based in Scotland since 1727. |
| 'Legal procedure' | |
| Companies are increasingly setting out their post-referendum contingency plans. | Companies are increasingly setting out their post-referendum contingency plans. |
| Lloyds Banking Group said it could also shift its legal home to its headquarters, which is already in London. | Lloyds Banking Group said it could also shift its legal home to its headquarters, which is already in London. |
| However, Lloyds said this was just a legal procedure and "there would be no immediate changes or issues". | However, Lloyds said this was just a legal procedure and "there would be no immediate changes or issues". |
| The statement from Lloyds said: "Lloyds Banking Group has seen an increased level of enquiries from our customers, colleagues and other stakeholders about our plans post the Scottish referendum. | The statement from Lloyds said: "Lloyds Banking Group has seen an increased level of enquiries from our customers, colleagues and other stakeholders about our plans post the Scottish referendum. |
| "While the scale of potential change is currently unclear, we have contingency plans in place which include the establishment of new legal entities in England. This is a legal procedure and there would be no immediate changes or issues which could affect our business or our customers. | "While the scale of potential change is currently unclear, we have contingency plans in place which include the establishment of new legal entities in England. This is a legal procedure and there would be no immediate changes or issues which could affect our business or our customers. |
| "There will be a period between the referendum and the implementation of separation, should a 'Yes' vote be successful, that we believe is sufficient to take any necessary action." | "There will be a period between the referendum and the implementation of separation, should a 'Yes' vote be successful, that we believe is sufficient to take any necessary action." |
| Lloyds, in which the UK government has a 25% stake, owns Bank of Scotland and Halifax. | Lloyds, in which the UK government has a 25% stake, owns Bank of Scotland and Halifax. |
| The move of what Lloyds describes as "legal entities" indicates that the banking group is not suggesting there will be a mass relocation of its 16,000 Scottish-based staff. The move would simply mean that the bank would remain protected and regulated by the Bank of England. | The move of what Lloyds describes as "legal entities" indicates that the banking group is not suggesting there will be a mass relocation of its 16,000 Scottish-based staff. The move would simply mean that the bank would remain protected and regulated by the Bank of England. |
| Clydesdale Bank, which is part of National Australia Bank, also said its contingency plans for a "Yes" vote included re-registering as an English company. | Clydesdale Bank, which is part of National Australia Bank, also said its contingency plans for a "Yes" vote included re-registering as an English company. |
| Chief executive David Thorburn said: "We have strong roots in Scotland and we remain fully committed to our customers, staff and the communities in which we operate. | Chief executive David Thorburn said: "We have strong roots in Scotland and we remain fully committed to our customers, staff and the communities in which we operate. |
| "Any change to the company's legal structure would have no impact on the vast majority of the bank's staff. Clydesdale Bank would continue to serve its customers just as it has since 1838 and Glasgow will continue to be the bank's key operational centre." | "Any change to the company's legal structure would have no impact on the vast majority of the bank's staff. Clydesdale Bank would continue to serve its customers just as it has since 1838 and Glasgow will continue to be the bank's key operational centre." |
| TSB, which is registered in England but has a Scottish headquarters for its banking operation, said it would establish additional legal entities in England in the event of a "Yes" vote. | TSB, which is registered in England but has a Scottish headquarters for its banking operation, said it would establish additional legal entities in England in the event of a "Yes" vote. |
| It said: "Any change in TSB's legal structure would be taken in the interests of our customers and business. | It said: "Any change in TSB's legal structure would be taken in the interests of our customers and business. |
| "In the event of a 'Yes' vote, it is clear that independence will not happen straight away and there would be a period of time between the referendum and implementation of independence, which we expect would provide sufficient time for us to consider and implement any necessary changes." | "In the event of a 'Yes' vote, it is clear that independence will not happen straight away and there would be a period of time between the referendum and implementation of independence, which we expect would provide sufficient time for us to consider and implement any necessary changes." |
| On the campaign trail.... | On the campaign trail.... |
| Responding to the announcements by RBS and Lloyds, Mr Salmond said: "We know the moves both from Lloyds and the Royal Bank of Scotland will have no impact on operations or jobs. They are about brass plaques. | Responding to the announcements by RBS and Lloyds, Mr Salmond said: "We know the moves both from Lloyds and the Royal Bank of Scotland will have no impact on operations or jobs. They are about brass plaques. |
| "These are contingency plans and they make it quite clear in the statements that they make. | "These are contingency plans and they make it quite clear in the statements that they make. |
| "And the way to avoid any uncertainty in the financial markets is for the United Kingdom to say, following the Edinburgh agreement which they signed, that they will sit down reasonably with the Scottish government after people in Scotland vote 'Yes' in the referendum, and discuss these matters in the best interests of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom." | "And the way to avoid any uncertainty in the financial markets is for the United Kingdom to say, following the Edinburgh agreement which they signed, that they will sit down reasonably with the Scottish government after people in Scotland vote 'Yes' in the referendum, and discuss these matters in the best interests of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom." |
| Mr Salmond also denied uncertainty in the markets was caused by the Scottish government's stance on a shared currency. | Mr Salmond also denied uncertainty in the markets was caused by the Scottish government's stance on a shared currency. |
| He added: "Any uncertainty we have seen in the financial markets over the last two days is caused by two things. One is the unreasonable posture of the UK government who have refused to discuss this at any stage throughout the last two years. | He added: "Any uncertainty we have seen in the financial markets over the last two days is caused by two things. One is the unreasonable posture of the UK government who have refused to discuss this at any stage throughout the last two years. |
| "And secondly, the remarkable statement from Downing Street on Monday when they were facing stock market moves, where they said they had no contingency plans for Scottish independence." | "And secondly, the remarkable statement from Downing Street on Monday when they were facing stock market moves, where they said they had no contingency plans for Scottish independence." |
| Quick look - What are banks saying now? | Quick look - What are banks saying now? |
| Elsewhere, John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield claimed shoppers in Scotland could face higher prices if the country votes in favour of independence. | Elsewhere, John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield claimed shoppers in Scotland could face higher prices if the country votes in favour of independence. |
| Sir Charlie said the retailer had no intention of reducing its commercial presence north of the border, where it has nine shops, a contact centre and employs more than 3,000 people. | Sir Charlie said the retailer had no intention of reducing its commercial presence north of the border, where it has nine shops, a contact centre and employs more than 3,000 people. |
| But he cautioned that firms were unlikely to continue sharing the burden of higher operating costs in Scotland across all UK customers in the event of the break up of the Union. | But he cautioned that firms were unlikely to continue sharing the burden of higher operating costs in Scotland across all UK customers in the event of the break up of the Union. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "From a business perspective there will be economic consequences to a Yes vote, not just in uncertainty but some of the turmoil we are hearing about. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "From a business perspective there will be economic consequences to a Yes vote, not just in uncertainty but some of the turmoil we are hearing about. |
| "And it is also the case that it does cost more money to trade in parts of Scotland and therefore those hard costs, in the event of a Yes vote, are more likely to be passed on." | "And it is also the case that it does cost more money to trade in parts of Scotland and therefore those hard costs, in the event of a Yes vote, are more likely to be passed on." |
| But he added: "On the day after the referendum the shops are going to open on time, nothing will change." | But he added: "On the day after the referendum the shops are going to open on time, nothing will change." |
| Angus Grossart, chairman of merchant bank Noble Grossart, said that people should "not panic" following the decisions made by the two banks. He told the Financial Times that the impact of a Yes vote was "severely overstated". | Angus Grossart, chairman of merchant bank Noble Grossart, said that people should "not panic" following the decisions made by the two banks. He told the Financial Times that the impact of a Yes vote was "severely overstated". |
| Mr Grossart, one of the most senior figures in Scotland's financial establishment, said people were "overreacting" to the threats of exodus of firms. | Mr Grossart, one of the most senior figures in Scotland's financial establishment, said people were "overreacting" to the threats of exodus of firms. |
| "I think it is getting out of hand," he told the Financial Times. "To hear some of the comments you almost expect people to be predicting a plague of locusts or mice next." | "I think it is getting out of hand," he told the Financial Times. "To hear some of the comments you almost expect people to be predicting a plague of locusts or mice next." |
| BBC economics editor Robert Peston said that that if RBS, 81%-owned by the UK government and which employs 11,500 people in Scotland, moved its head office and registered office to London it "would involve some jobs moving south". | BBC economics editor Robert Peston said that that if RBS, 81%-owned by the UK government and which employs 11,500 people in Scotland, moved its head office and registered office to London it "would involve some jobs moving south". |
| However, he said the situation with Lloyds was different: "Lloyds would move its legal home to its head office, which is already in London - and that's unlikely to have much impact on Scottish employment." | However, he said the situation with Lloyds was different: "Lloyds would move its legal home to its head office, which is already in London - and that's unlikely to have much impact on Scottish employment." |
| Protect customers | Protect customers |
| A Treasury source told the BBC that it had discussed the plans with RBS. | A Treasury source told the BBC that it had discussed the plans with RBS. |
| On Wednesday, insurance and pensions giant Standard Life said it was "planning for new regulated companies in England to which we could transfer parts of our business if there was a need to do so". | On Wednesday, insurance and pensions giant Standard Life said it was "planning for new regulated companies in England to which we could transfer parts of our business if there was a need to do so". |
| Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander told BBC2's Newsnight: "When a company like Standard Life says that it would, unfortunately, sadly, have to relocate its business to London that is not some sort of decision that they make lightly. | Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander told BBC2's Newsnight: "When a company like Standard Life says that it would, unfortunately, sadly, have to relocate its business to London that is not some sort of decision that they make lightly. |
| "They make it on the basis that they regard that as the best way to protect their customers under the new circumstances. | "They make it on the basis that they regard that as the best way to protect their customers under the new circumstances. |
| "When we hear Lloyds and other banks making clear that they would have to do the same, again that is not something that they say lightly. They say it having thought about it, having talked to their board and to the senior people in those companies." | "When we hear Lloyds and other banks making clear that they would have to do the same, again that is not something that they say lightly. They say it having thought about it, having talked to their board and to the senior people in those companies." |
| Do you bank with RBS or Lloyds Banking Group? What do you think of the plans? Please share your comments by emailing. | Do you bank with RBS or Lloyds Banking Group? What do you think of the plans? Please share your comments by emailing. |