- 133 U.K. businesses
More than 130 businesses spoke out against Scotland's independence, marking the biggest intervention by the U.K. business community into the referendum debate thus far. Business leaders have signed a letter, which says that the business case for Scottish independence "has not been made". Moreover, in a statement heads of some of the U.K.'s leading companies said the outcome of the historic September 18 referendum would affect generations to come. The letter also says that "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." The signatories come from a variety of businesses such as banking, mining, engineering, food, whisky, and technology including Douglas Flint, the chairman of HSBC; Andrew Mackenzie, the chief executive of the mining company BHP Billiton; and Sir John Grant, executive vice-president of policy at the energy company, BG Group.
Voters will decide next month whether Scotland with a population of just over 5 million should halt its 307-year-old union with England and leave the United Kingdom. Britain's three main political parties want Scotland to stay in the union, which includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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