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| Shop bosses plan new 'Yes' vote warning | Shop bosses plan new 'Yes' vote warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The BBC has learned that key retailers are planning a joint warning of higher business costs should Scotland vote "Yes" as the war of words heats up. | |
| A letter written by the head of the Kingfisher group is expected to be published in the next 48 hours. | A letter written by the head of the Kingfisher group is expected to be published in the next 48 hours. |
| It is thought further signatories will include the heads of John Lewis, Asda and Marks and Spencer. | |
| Others, including Gordon Macintyre Kemp of Business for Scotland, say concerns about price rises are unfounded. | Others, including Gordon Macintyre Kemp of Business for Scotland, say concerns about price rises are unfounded. |
| A former boss of Sainsbury's and the bosses of Asda and John Lewis have already suggested that prices could rise in an independent Scotland. | A former boss of Sainsbury's and the bosses of Asda and John Lewis have already suggested that prices could rise in an independent Scotland. |
| Against that, the boss of JD Wetherspoon, the UK pub chain, has accused business leaders and politicians of talking "nonsense" over independence worries. | Against that, the boss of JD Wetherspoon, the UK pub chain, has accused business leaders and politicians of talking "nonsense" over independence worries. |
| Speaking on Friday, Tim Martin said: "Scotland could do very well on its own". | Speaking on Friday, Tim Martin said: "Scotland could do very well on its own". |
| Differential | Differential |
| The head of the John Lewis Partnership, which includes Waitrose, said on Thursday that it was "most probable" that higher costs will be passed on to customers in Scotland if the country votes "Yes" to independence. | The head of the John Lewis Partnership, which includes Waitrose, said on Thursday that it was "most probable" that higher costs will be passed on to customers in Scotland if the country votes "Yes" to independence. |
| Sir Charlie Mayfield said: "When we are talking about two separate countries it is most probable that retailers will start pricing differently." | Sir Charlie Mayfield said: "When we are talking about two separate countries it is most probable that retailers will start pricing differently." |
| BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed said that the potential price differentials between Scotland and the rest of the UK would create a competitive market: "What would happen if Scotland becomes independent is that if the British-based retailers started charging more then new retailers will appear who will start charging less. It will be a dynamic situation." | BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed said that the potential price differentials between Scotland and the rest of the UK would create a competitive market: "What would happen if Scotland becomes independent is that if the British-based retailers started charging more then new retailers will appear who will start charging less. It will be a dynamic situation." |