28 . Glasgow Business August 2014


KNOWLEDGE IS POWER


With the crucial debate on Scotland’s future on 18 September. Kenny Kemp asks if Glasgow businesses now have all the information they need to vote


Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister and a leading figure in the Yes campaign


H


ow has it been for you? Te Scotish referendum debate, that is. Whatever your political leaning,


there is litle doubt the wall-to-wall coverage over the last year has made Scotland and its people sit up and consider what kind of future they really want. By nature, business people


are usually more sceptical about political change. It has something to do with the pragmatism required to run a business every day, keep people in work and maintain vital cash flow. Tat’s the real world for most Glasgow firms. Frankly, they don’t have spare hours to devote to pontificating like nerdy political bloggers on the finer points of separation. Does it mater which celebrity


wants to keep the Union, or what film star says independence is the route to economic self- determination? Very few business people are impressed by those with litle insight into invoice financing, VAT returns and preparing projections for the bank manager. Glasgow Chamber of


Commerce was set a task: to divine the critical referendum issues for members, while ensuring the Chamber as a corporate body did not take sides, remaining strictly neutral. Has this been achieved? “Te Chamber set up a


Constitution Commitee which requested a number of activities be carried out. A set of questions were formulated and sent to the five main Holyrood parties and the Yes and Beter Together campaigns. Te responses were published on the website. I think we’ve done all we can without actually voting for our members,” said Stuart Patrick,


the Chamber’s Chief Executive. Tis provided Chamber


members with a starting point to raise their questions. Two open sessions, atracting around 100 members at each event, were held with Alistair Darling, Leader of the Beter Together campaign, and Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister and a prominent member


of the Yes campaign. “We deliberately did not ask


our members the Yes or No question. Specifically, we have been asking about the process of creating an independent Scotland and seeking the relevant responses and atitudes of the business community in Glasgow,” said Stuart.


Alongside this, Glasgow


Chamber supported the Scotish Chambers of Commerce’s national survey. It is worthwhile looking at the outcome. Tis comprehensive survey asked about Scotland’s currency options, the opportunities and risks of independence, Scotland’s relationship with Europe and taxation.


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