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Highland Spring chief executive Les Montgomery has sought to defuse a row over comments about the pursuit of Scottish independence following social media criticism, and an approach to the company by unnamed Scottish Government contacts.



Montgomery had told the Press Association on Sunday that the Scottish Government should abandon its stated drive for a second independence referendum.

But in a statement supplied to Insider on Tuesday afternoon the company's spokesman said: "The comments being referred to came from a recent business news story which focuses on the importance of maintaining a 'business as usual' stance in light of recent political activity across the UK.

"The statements made did not mention indyref2 and were not intended to offer an opinion on whether Scotland should or shouldn't remain a part of the UK; from either the perspective of Highland Spring or any individual member of staff.

"Instead, they were intended to outline a view that it is key for businesses in Scotland to have stability and clarity around ongoing important political issues, for the good of the Scottish economy and businesses. We're sorry if people have taken this the wrong way."

Asked whether the company had been contacted by Scottish Government personnel in response to the original reported comments, the Highland Spring spokeswoman confirmed that it had, but declined whether the contact was a minister or a civil servant or to detail the content of the conversation.

She said: “Highland Spring are always happy to have regular conversations with the Scottish Government, we enjoy an open dialogue [with them].”

Two days ago, Montgomery had told PA: "Businesses are fed up. The Scottish Government should be getting on with the job they are there to do. Focusing on employment, investment, those kinds of things.

"Independence isn't the job that the Scottish Government is supposed to be doing."

He added that the Scottish Government should be "helping the country exit [the European Union] as effectively as possible", rather than trying to create more division.

He added: "What we and the wider industry needs is for the UK and devolved governments to continue working together, swiftly and decisively, to bring clarity to key questions for businesses as the Brexit process continues."

Following the comments Twitter accounts and pro-independence message boards contained an array of angry comment - including talk of personal boycotts of the firm's products.

Among them was a tweet on the account of singer Eddi Reader saying the popular bottled water brand would not be stocked on her tour bus.

Meanwhile @kuantancurls (Ruth Watson) and @allyram63 (Al Ramsay) said:

Pub group boss Tim Wetherspoon and vacuum cleaner magnate Sir James Dyson were outspoken supporters of Brexit in the recent EU referendum.

The foreign-owned Perthshire-based group is one of the UK's largest producers of naturally-sourced bottled water.

Last July it announced it had begun a new £16m factory expansion.

The site already bottles around 500 million litres of water a year, producing for a number of brands including Highland Spring, Speyside Glenlivet, Hydr8 and a range of private label flavoured and unflavoured waters for some of the UK’s major supermarkets and food service retailers.

The factory extension follows investment in a new rail siding which will transport the equivalent of up to 60 lorry loads per day by train in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.