A ROW has erupted after a nationalist MSP revealed that he boycotts a travel firm due to its founder's opposition to independence and warned other business leaders they should fear the consequences of expressing political views.
John Mason said that he has not used Barrhead Travel, the largest independent travel company in the UK, since an email was sent to staff ahead of the 2014 vote expressing a view that leaving the UK would prove disastrous to the business.
READ MORE: MSP 'boycotts' Barrhead Travel because its founder voted No in independence referendum
Mr Mason is deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Jobs and Fair Work committee.
While the SNP distanced itself from the Glasgow Shettleston MSP's remarks, saying firms were entitled to express opinions and that it did not encourage consumers to make choices based on contributions to political debate, Mr Mason maintained that companies should "think twice" before taking sides.
Mr Mason's admission that he deliberately avoids changing currency at a Barrhead Travel branch near to his constituency office was condemned as "utterly ludicrous" and "petulant beyond belief" by the Liberal Democrats, who claimed he should be supporting Scottish businesses.
However, the MSP denied that his actions were designed to encourage others to join the boycott and argued that making political statements would inevitably alienate some staff and customers.
READ MORE: MSP 'boycotts' Barrhead Travel because its founder voted No in independence referendum
The MSP said: "I was annoyed at the time that they said anything, and especially that they said No. I didn’t use them much but I haven’t used them since 2014.
"Boycotts have been used over the years, if you look at South Africa [during the apartheid era] or certain Israeli products. There is a risk for any business to take a political position, they don’t gain a lot of business and are in danger of losing some. My key point is businesses are wiser not taking sides. Businesses should think twice because of what might happen."
Mr Mason said he had not joined some pro-independence activists in boycotting Tunnocks, after its boss backed remaining in the UK and recently rebranded its teacakes as "British".
READ MORE: MSP 'boycotts' Barrhead Travel because its founder voted No in independence referendum
He added: "I have not called for anybody else to do this, it’s my line. People don’t follow me, I am on the backbenches. I know there are people out there who are not eating Tunnocks since the referendum. But they do a lot of good community work, so on balance, I do eat caramel wafers."
Barrhead Travel founder and then non-executive director Bill Munro sent staff an email in March 2014 claiming independence would be "a disaster" and attacking SNP "lies". He later said that he was relaying a personal view and that, as a company, Barrhead Travel had not expressed an opinion on independence.
READ MORE: MSP 'boycotts' Barrhead Travel because its founder voted No in independence referendum
The company refused to respond directly to Mr Mason's boycott but highlighted its "enormous" contribution to Scotland's economy by employing 800 people and plans for a new training academy in Glasgow which will benefit 100 young people a year.
James Kelly, the Scottish Labour MSP, questioned the signal being sent to the 49 per cent of voters in Mr Mason's constituency who had voted No in the referendum and called on his opponent to "grow up".
He added: "By his own logic he can't do his shopping in Asda or Morrisons. He can't fill up his car in a BP or Shell petrol station. He can't buy any DIY products from B&Q. He can't bank with RBS or Lloyds. He can't go the pictures at the Parkhead Forge in his constituency to watch anything to do with Harry Potter, Judi Dench, Emma Thomson or a whole load of other entertainers. He can't enjoy the music of Rod Stewart, David Bowie or Susan Boyle. He can't even eat a Tunnock's tea cake. It's barely worth John Mason getting out of bed in the morning."
READ MORE: MSP 'boycotts' Barrhead Travel because its founder voted No in independence referendum
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