Scots Businesses Worse Off In Independent Scotland

Independent poll shows that 75% of leading Scots businesses fear Independence would be worse for business

A survey of 100 leading businesses has revealed that 75% of Scotland's biggest companies feel that independence for Scotland would be worse for business.

The survey was carried out by MORI Scotland for the Scottish Industry Forum, the independent business organisation. Interviewing was conducted by MORI on 6-15 January.

Asked if full independence would be better or worse for business, as opposed to a devolved Parliament as currently planned, only 6% felt the business environment would be improved.

One respondent said, "it (independence) would be catastrophic for Scotland. We are a very small country and are much stronger when united with the rest of the UK. When Europe is grouping together for strength it would be ludicrous for a small country like Scotland to be separating."

Edward Cunningham, Chair of the Scottish Industry Forum, said, "the results of this survey confirm the deep concern which business has over the possibility of independence. At the same time from the discussions of the Scottish Industry Forum, devolution seems to be being viewed more positively and the opportunities which devolution will offer business will be central to the Scottish Industry Forum's event with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Friday."

The Scottish Industry Forum has been running a series of working meetings on Business Opportunities Post-Devolution which have shown that devolution can be expected to generate considerable energy and commitment within the business community towards Scotland's further economic development.

Asked which party would do the best, job of running the Scottish Parliament, Labour was the favoured party with 20% support while 14% wanted a coalition. The Conservatives and SNP polled 10% while the Liberal Democrats polled 4%.

The majority of the companies interviewed had a turnover in Scotland of more than 16325 million and one-fifth of those surveyed had a turnover of more than 163100 million in Scotland in 1998. 40% employed more than 500 people in Scotland.

The 100 businesses were drawn from the top 400 companies listed in the Business Insider 500, and at each company a main Board Director was interviewed or a Senior Manager where no Board Director was available.

Technical details

• The Scottish Industry Forum is an independent business organisation set up in 1995 to facilitate dialogue between the business community and the government. It has no political affiliation and does not require members to have any particular political views.
• The Scottish Industry Forum is a not-for-profit organisation funded by member subscriptions. It carries on a series of working groups for members including Business Opportunities Post-Devolution, Indigenous Development v Inward Investment, Training Post-Devolution, Scottish Parliament and Europe and Incentives for Investment.
• It has also provided written evidence to the Low Pay Commission, the DTI Paper Competitiveness UK and a paper in response to a request from the Scottish Office on How Scotland Parliament Should Work.
• Edward Cunningham CBE the Chair of the Scottish Industry Forum.
• This Survey was carried out by MORI on behalf of the Scottish Industry Forum. The respondents were drawn from the top 400 companies from the Business Insider 500 and were chosen by MORI.