The CBI - what a shambles !

[NickB]

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The CBI is to attempt to reverse its position as a registered campaigner against Scottish independence.

The business lobby group registered last week with the Electoral Commission, allowing it to spend up to £150,000 in campaigning for a 'No' vote ahead of the referendum in September.

The CBI said it had taken legal advice, which suggested the application should not have been made.

It has asked the Electoral Commission to "nullify" its registration.

The commission said it was considering whether this would be possible.

[Innes Newton]

It's still a non-story like I said it was when you mentioned the first out-rage. There was pitiful objection to the CBI putting it's support behind the Better Campaign. The list is far from impressive, all but TWO withdrawing from the CBI because it was important they were seen to remain neutral. Only TWO insignificant Scottish businesses withdrew because they object to being part of an organisation that supports the better Together Campaign. that is TWO out of 1900 Scottish businesses that have a problem with it. That in itself shows that the overwhelming majority of Scottish business prefers to be part of the UK, because they can see that an independent Scotland is likely to be poorer for them.

It's not a shambles. In fact it might have just be a deliberate tactic to establish exactly how much business in Scotland supports the Union. The result looks like something like 1885 to 2. That's a slightly overwhelming majority of business in Scotland that prefer to do business as part of the United Kingdom rather than in an independent Scotland. They ain't stupid.

[NickB]

It's not a shambles.

Of course it's a shambles.

In a decision announced this evening (Friday) the CBI has said that a review of their board took account of legal advice that the application should never have been made – a direct opposite to the original reason given earlier this week that the business organisation had a ‘legal duty’ to formally register as a group campaigning for a No vote in September.

The CBI also said "the move was a “mistake” by a junior official in London."

. . . which begs the question, why would a junior officer in London be doing something as significant as weighing in on the Scottish independence campaign?

No, this latest action suggests that in private, there were a lot of companies threatening to withdraw - big names telling the CBI that they couldn't do this.

The CBI now looks pathetic, asking to withdraw its application for membership and not even knowing if it will be able to. So they might not be able to un-register which would make them look even more stupid. And of course now no CBI spokesperson will be able to open their mouth without someone saying "but you're hardly neutral, are you".

This genie is out of the bottle and won't be put back in.

A 'deliberate tactic' - oh come on, you are having a laugh, aren't you? Surely even you can see what a grade 'A' fiasco this is ?

The Herald is calling it a 'humiliating climbdown' , the Guardian is calling it a U-turn, but Innes Newton says it was a 'deliberate tactic'

[Innes Newton]

there were a lot of companies threatening to withdraw - big names telling the CBI that they couldn't do this

How do you know? It's a complete irrelevance.

The CBI represents something like 180,000 businesses, the vast majority of them not Scottish. Just like an overwhelming majority of Scottish businesses, the non-Scottish businesses also do not support Scottish independence either because they want to continue to do borderless business within the UK.

[NickB]

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The CBI has had to make a humiliating climbdown, a U-turn.

It admits it should never have made the application.

I am afraid you can't polish this particular piece of ordure Innes, no matter how hard you try.

[Innes Newton]

So what does it mean then? Nothing. You're jumping up and down just because you think you are angry.

[NickB]

So what does it mean then? Nothing. You're jumping up and down just because you think you are angry.

It means one of the NO campaign's big guns has gone off in its face.

I'm not angry, I'm delighted

[Innes Newton]

Not at all. BUSINESS in general, does not want an independent Scotland.

And as you are so well connected with the oil industry have a word with your mate at the top of Shell.

[NickB]

Not at all. BUSINESS in general, does not want an independent Scotland.

Oh really?

Business for Scotland has over 1500 members.

I believe the CBI has about 90 members in Scotland (or did have until 13 of them resigned over the last few days).

[NickB]

No doubt the CBI think that if they withdraw their application then things can get back to normal for them - appearing on the BBC as 'impartial commentators'.

That is not going to happen. For one thing the organisation has now been exposed as willing to campaign for a 'No' vote. And for another thing the BBC has been exposed as a member of the organisation. I suspect we won't be hearing so much from the CBI in the near future.

Through utter incompetence and dishonesty the CBI have effectively managed to silence themselves in the independence debate. And Yes supporters didn't even have to get their hands dirty.

[Innes Newton]

It just isn't an issue. The vast majority of businesses still want to do their business within the UK. They have their heads screwed on.

[NickB]

The vast majority of businesses still want to their business within the UK. They have their heads screwed on.

Oh really?

Business for Scotland has over 1500 members.

I believe the CBI has about 90 members in Scotland (or did have until 13 of them resigned over the last few days).

[Innes Newton]

And their total turnover is ??? Compared to

Shell
Standard Life
BP
BAE Systems
Weir Group
Barr Travel

(Reuters) - A majority of FTSE 100 chairmen oppose Scottish independence as they fear splitting up would be bad for British business and dilute the UK's economic influence, according to a survey on Monday as the debate over independence intensifies.

The poll by executive search firm Korn Ferry found 65 percent of chairmen of 32 FTSE 100 companies said it would be bad for business if Scotland ended its 307-year union with England while 24 percent saw it as good or very good.

Commenting on a "Yes" vote for independence, one chairman said it would be "particularly bad for the Scots, not good for the English and would dilute the UK's economic influence".

[NickB]

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Most of those aren't Scottish.


Patronising quotes by anonymous FTSE 100 chairmen aren't going to swing a lot of votes I am afraid - quite the opposite in fact.

[Innes Newton]

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Most of those aren't Scottish.


Patronising quotes by anonymous FTSE 100 chairmen aren't going to swing a lot of votes I am afraid - quite the opposite in fact.

Who cares if they are Scottish or not? They carry a lot of clout because they provide a huge number of jobs and investment in Scotland. Choose to be without it if you like.

[NickB]

Who cares if they are Scottish or not? They carry a lot of clout because they provide a huge number of jobs and investment in Scotland. Choose to be without it if you like.

None of these companies will be leaving after independence.

[Innes Newton]

The point is they say "NO" to independence. Along with the overwhelming majority of businesses they believe Scottish independence will be BAD for them.

[DonnieC]

The CBI also said "the move was a “mistake” by a junior official in London."

. . . which begs the question, why would a junior officer in London be doing something as significant as weighing in on the Scottish independence campaign?

No, this latest action suggests that in private, there were a lot of companies threatening to withdraw - big names telling the CBI that they couldn't do this.

A wee boy did it and ran away!

I watched the grovelling nervous apology on tv which was utterly unconvincing.

Decisions like that are not made by the teaboy!

[NickB]

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Cridland's explanation to the Telegraph :

The person who signed it was not authorised to sign it but was not aware that they were not authorised to sign it. …

All credibility gone I'm afraid. The CBI will have no further influence in the debate.

And quite right too. The organisation was already compromised by the fact that the Chairman of CBI Scotland, John Howie, is also Manager Director of Babcock Marine which has a multi-million pound contract with the MoD at Faslane.

[DonnieC]

It also has to be pointed out that the BBC, of which BBC Scotland is a part, have merely 'suspended' their membership!

Arguably still placing it firmly in the no camp - so called impartiality totally discredited!!