A FORMER Lib Dem leader of Scottish Borders Council is backing a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum on September 18.

Hawick-born John Ross Scott, 63, who is chairman of NHS Orkney, gave his endorsement during a campaigning visit to the island last week by Scottish health minister Alex Neil MSP and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP.

Making it clear he was speaking in a “personal capacity”, Mr Scott said: “I have been on a 40-year quest for devolution and having seen the benefits of devolved powers to Scotland come to fruition and prove so successful, independence is the next step.

“The Scottish Government’s track record of investment in health – and not being sucked into the creeping privatisation agenda of health care south of the border – highlight exactly why the future of the NHS in Scotland can only be secured with a Yes vote.

“We need to devolve powers under an independent Scotland back to communities and I am extremely optimistic about the prospects of a Yes vote in this month’s referendum.” His comments were described as “a fabulous endorsement” by Ms Sturgeon who is in charge of the SNP’s independence campaign.

Ms Sturgeon went on: “People across Scotland are waking up the fact that a Yes vote will give us an opportunity to ensure that we protect our NHS and by enshrining it in our constitution we will keep it in public hands forever.

“Scotland’s budget has already been subject to Westminster cuts and Labour’s shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has warned that the NHS south of the border will be pushed 'off the cliff edge’ by Tory privatisation and cuts.

“The No parties’ denial of the risks we are facing would see us sleepwalking into cuts in the event of a No vote.

“This is a risk we absolutely cannot take. We must vote Yes to protect our NHS for future generations of people across Scotland.” Back in 2007, Ms Sturgeon, in her role as Scottish cabinet secretary for health, announced the appointment of Mr Scott as chairman of NHS Orkney. After serving a four-year stint, he was reappointed in 2011.

Mr Scott, the son of a Hawick farmer, left the Borders with his family in 2003 after losing his Silverbuthall seat earlier that year at the SBC elections.

A journalist to trade and a former chief reporter with the Southern Reporter, he took over as editor of the new defunct Orkney Today. He now edits the Living Orkney magazine.

He served his native town as a councillor for 23 years, including a term as provost, and, in his role as chairman of the South East Scotland Transport Partnership and as Scottish Lib Dem transport spokesman from 1998-1999, he was a staunch and vocal supporter of the reinstatement of the Borders Railway.

His political career has, however, been marked by disappointment. In 1997, he failed to win his party’s nomination to fight the Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Westminster seat vacated by Sir David Steel.

In 2007, he was shortlisted to be the Lib Dem candidate for Orkney in the Scottish Parliamentary elections, but lost out to current incumbent Liam McArthur.