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MacKenzie attack draws Scots fire MacKenzie attack draws Scots fire
(about 1 hour later)
A leading Scottish businessman has defended his countrymen against comments made by former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie on Question Time. A leading Scottish businessman has defended fellow countrymen against comments made by former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie on the Question Time.
Mr MacKenzie, a columnist on the newspaper, said the reality was Scots enjoy spending money, not creating it.Mr MacKenzie, a columnist on the newspaper, said the reality was Scots enjoy spending money, not creating it.
Duncan Bannatyne, who stars in the BBC's Dragons' Den, said: "MacKenzie's comments were an attack on the character of the Scottish people."Duncan Bannatyne, who stars in the BBC's Dragons' Den, said: "MacKenzie's comments were an attack on the character of the Scottish people."
The BBC has received hundreds of e-mails complaining about the remarks. The BBC has received hundreds of complaints about the remarks.
Mr MacKenzie made the comments during a discussion on Question Time, from Cheltenham, about the Conservative Party Leader David Cameron and the Shadow Chancellor George Osbourne.Mr MacKenzie made the comments during a discussion on Question Time, from Cheltenham, about the Conservative Party Leader David Cameron and the Shadow Chancellor George Osbourne.
I think Kelvin Mackenzie is a raving lunatic, I think he's a complete idiot and a racist idiot at that Duncan Bannatyne I think Kelvin MacKenzie is a raving lunatic, I think he's a complete idiot and a racist idiot at that Duncan Bannatyne
He then turned his attention to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.He then turned his attention to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
"Brown is a Scot," he said."Brown is a Scot," he said.
"He is a socialist Scot who wants to spend every single penny you earn, never forget that."He is a socialist Scot who wants to spend every single penny you earn, never forget that.
"Scotland believes not in entrepreneurialism like London and the south east."Scotland believes not in entrepreneurialism like London and the south east.
"He couldn't find anyone who would carry his bag better than another Scot so he grabbed (Alistair) Darling from wherever he was."He couldn't find anyone who would carry his bag better than another Scot so he grabbed (Alistair) Darling from wherever he was.
"The reality is that the Scots enjoy spending it, they don't enjoy creating it which is the opposite of down in the south.""The reality is that the Scots enjoy spending it, they don't enjoy creating it which is the opposite of down in the south."
Richest Scots Sir Tom Hunter £1,050mThe Grant and Gordon family £900mKeith Miller £810mBrian Souter and Ann Gloag £770mSir David Murray £750m RICHEST SCOTS Sir Tom Hunter £1,050mThe Grant and Gordon family £900mKeith Miller £810mBrian Souter and Ann Gloag £770mSir David Murray £750m
The claim was met by jeers from the audience.The claim was met by jeers from the audience.
Mr Bannatyne said: "I think Kelvin Mackenzie is a raving lunatic, I think he's a complete idiot and a racist idiot at that. Mr Bannatyne said: "I think Kelvin MacKenzie is a raving lunatic, I think he's a complete idiot and a racist idiot at that.
"There are some phenomenal Scottish entrepreneurs, I could name so many."There are some phenomenal Scottish entrepreneurs, I could name so many.
"There's Sir Tom Hunter, Brian Souter, Sir Tom Farmer, you could go on and on, there are many of us.""There's Sir Tom Hunter, Brian Souter, Sir Tom Farmer, you could go on and on, there are many of us."
He added: "It is plainly wrong for MacKenzie to assert that Scottish people do not understand business and enterprise."He added: "It is plainly wrong for MacKenzie to assert that Scottish people do not understand business and enterprise."
Mr MacKenzie told BBC Scotland that the entrpeuneurial spirit in Scotland had declined over the past three or four decades. Mr MacKenzie told BBC Scotland that the entrepreneurial spirit in Scotland had declined over the past three or four decades.
"There's no doubt that if it weren't for London and the South East, Scotland might well be heading towards being a third world nation now," he added."There's no doubt that if it weren't for London and the South East, Scotland might well be heading towards being a third world nation now," he added.
Stewart Hosie, the Scottish National Party's home affairs spokesman, said: "Kelvin MacKenzie has made himself a figure of fun with this ridiculous attack on the Scottish people.
"I would draw Mr MacKenzie's attention to a report published by Local Government Futures and Oxford Economics this week that scotches the subsidy myth once and for all.
"The study shows that people living in Scotland are actually amongst those who get the least return for the cash they pump into Treasury coffers, a point emphasised by the tight spending settlement Scotland received in the Comprehensive Spending Review earlier this week."