Business leaders outline case against Scottish independence
August 27 2014
The group, which includes prominent figures from the construction industry, began by stating that ‘… the business case for independence has not been made.’
They went on: “Our economic ties inside the United Kingdom are very close and support almost one million Scottish jobs. The rest of the UK is Scotland's biggest market by far.
"Uncertainty surrounds a number of vital issues including currency, regulation, tax, pensions, EU membership and support for our exports around the world; and uncertainty is bad for business. Today Scotland’s economy is growing. We are attracting record investment and the employment rate is high.
“We should be proud that Scotland is a great place to build businesses and create jobs – success that has been achieved as an integral part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom gives business the strong platform we must have to invest in jobs and industry. By all continuing to work together, we can keep Scotland flourishing.”
Amongst those to sign the open letter are; Sandy Cooper, director of Mosaic Architecture + Design; Bruce Mickel, chairman, McTaggart & Mickel; George Morris, chairman, Morris and Spottiswood and Lord Damian Scott, director, Buccleuch Group.
The initiative comes just days after a clarion call was made by over 50 architects in support of independence - in the hope that it might usher in a more egalitarian society.
11 Comments
#2 Posted by john knowkes on 27 Aug 2014 at 15:59 PM
What on earth does this political press release have to do with architecture and the urban realm?
#3 Posted by Neil C on 27 Aug 2014 at 17:11 PM
#2 - Did you not see who's signed this letter? Or do the opinions of architecture and construction bosses only count if they're in favour of independence, like the Architects For Yes group that got coverage on UR last week?
#4 Posted by wonky on 27 Aug 2014 at 18:44 PM
What has come out of the referendum debate is the utter contempt the established elites have for democracy- from the use of corporate media to suppress vital information ( on pensions/EU membership etc) & using mainstream to promote a demented carousel of scare stories- the media in this country have utterly discredited themselves. For the likes of corporate elites the future cannot be entrusted to the ordinary people; even their corporate roles must be abused as a public platform to spout their own private political ideologies.
Of course it's no coincidence this comes so soon after Salmond's demolition job on Darling- the establishment have all come together in greater synchronicity to spread the message of how democracy has its limits. Hence we see the Scotsman as a channel for the Captains of industry & the BBC refusing to include an Oil & Gas UK report that refutes Sir Ian Woods opinions on the North Sea ( in the interests of fairness). If Scotland does gain independent nation status then it must be vigilant of long established privileged elites monopolizing power ( as explored lucidly by Gerry Hassan)- but a smaller nation ought to be able to hold smaller elites to account more easily than the monster of corruption that Westminster has become.
Of course it's no coincidence this comes so soon after Salmond's demolition job on Darling- the establishment have all come together in greater synchronicity to spread the message of how democracy has its limits. Hence we see the Scotsman as a channel for the Captains of industry & the BBC refusing to include an Oil & Gas UK report that refutes Sir Ian Woods opinions on the North Sea ( in the interests of fairness). If Scotland does gain independent nation status then it must be vigilant of long established privileged elites monopolizing power ( as explored lucidly by Gerry Hassan)- but a smaller nation ought to be able to hold smaller elites to account more easily than the monster of corruption that Westminster has become.
#5 Posted by Cadmonkey on 27 Aug 2014 at 23:27 PM
Have to say I disagree with these referendum stories appearing in this web site.
But it is laughable to see Yes campaigners ranting about the suppression of vital information.
But it is laughable to see Yes campaigners ranting about the suppression of vital information.
#6 Posted by Gin Bob on 28 Aug 2014 at 10:17 AM
#5 What vital info have Yes suppressed? Is it on the same level as the McCrone report & lies over public sector pension?
Interestingly enough both the DTZ and Knight Frank Q2 property market reports both show significant upturns in investment & take up in commercial property in Scotland. Not quite in line with the scare stories saying investors are running away from Scotland.
I see today Business for Scotland have published a similar letter in support of independence with some notable signatories from property, construction & Architecture. Hopefully that will get equal coverage. Poster #4 above hits the nail on the head quite perfectly.
Interestingly enough both the DTZ and Knight Frank Q2 property market reports both show significant upturns in investment & take up in commercial property in Scotland. Not quite in line with the scare stories saying investors are running away from Scotland.
I see today Business for Scotland have published a similar letter in support of independence with some notable signatories from property, construction & Architecture. Hopefully that will get equal coverage. Poster #4 above hits the nail on the head quite perfectly.
#7 Posted by Neil C on 28 Aug 2014 at 11:26 AM
#4 - Yes, it would be nice to have more accountability and protection against self-interested elites. Sadly, that's just the way of the modern world. There are plenty of precedents in Scottish construction and architecture where nepotism, the support of cronies, a fawning press or outright corruption have allowed unacceptable things to happen to our built environment. That's capitalism, not Conservatism, and we've already got our fair share of corporate elites north of the border. They're going nowhere on September 19th.
#8 Posted by cat flap on 28 Aug 2014 at 12:49 PM
Neil C - If you were to believe the propaganda in the 37 daily newspapers in Scotland and the main broadcasters whom all err on the side of Better Together, I thought the corporate elite were all going to pack up and leave on the 19th Sep in the event of a Yes vote?
#9 Posted by thomas manley on 28 Aug 2014 at 15:39 PM
Scotland could probably have built a few new towns with the time and money all the referendum debate and realisation is taking - can't help thinking what will be the cost of this independence. A divided country, severed economic and cultural relations, and vast time and money spent on this rather than sorting out the everyday needs of Scotland?
#10 Posted by wonky on 28 Aug 2014 at 19:53 PM
What has really struck me about the referendum debate is the casual dismissal of democracy among the middle class of Scotland- but what price democracy? And what if Independent nation status brings a better more hopeful future for Scotland- what will.say then (if in 20 years time we are another Norway)- will we complain that it "cost" too much? "To know the price of everything & the value of nothing"- man lives by more than bread alone.
#11 Posted by Gin Bob on 29 Aug 2014 at 10:23 AM
#9 (Jim) What about the cost of the House of Lords, the nuclear weapons programme, a high speed rail line that will never reach Scotland? Far, far bigger wastes of money than the cost of a one off democratic process, yet no matter which of the two parties are returned to Westminster none of the scandalous wastes of money I've highlighted will be abolished.
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Remember the dire warnings from businesses prior to devolution? How did that work out...