Member Article

Businesses say Scotland should remain part of UK

A major survey conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has found 85% of respondents think Scotland should remain part of the UK.

Over half of businesses said they saw no opportunities in independence, and a quarter suggested the Scottish parliament should get more power if Scotland does remain part of the UK.

Despite the strong indication that Scotland should remain in the UK, an overwhelming majority of respondents said the independence debate has so far had no impact on their business decisions to date.

In contrast, firms surveyed in Scotland by the BCC’s sister organisation, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, suggested decisions had already been influenced by the debate. 24% of respondents said this was the case.

John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Business opinion across the United Kingdom on the Scottish independence debate is far from unanimous. That’s only logical, as businesses have different interests, and different views on our complex history of economic and political union.

“Businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland remain less than captivated by the intense debate unfolding north of the border. Yet they do have views on the potential impacts of a change in Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK.

“In the event of a ‘yes’ vote, cross-border trading and currency arrangements loom large in businesses’ thinking. If Scotland votes ‘no’, constitutional questions remain around the devolution of power and the distribution of public funding between nations.

“Business communities across the UK have diverse views on the Scottish independence debate. Yet one thing is for certain. Regardless of how Scotland votes in September, things will never be quite the same again.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .