Aberdeen will overwhelmingly vote “no” in the Scottish independence referendum to be held later this year.
According to Aberdeen city council leader and Estates Gazette Question Time event panellist Barney Crockett, the city will reject the opportunity to break away from the United Kingdom in the vote on 18 September.
Speaking in front of more than 100 guests at last night’s inaugural Aberdeen Question Time event, chaired by EG group online editor Karen Day and held at the Aberdeen Art Gallery, Crockett said: “There is no question, the overwhelming vote in Aberdeen will be the ‘no’ vote.
“The worst thing for business is indecision and the period leading up to the referendum will be difficult.”
Fellow panellist and Drum Property Group director Stuart Oag said uncertainty surrounding the independence issue put Scotland at a “slight disadvantage”. He added: ”There has been a vacuum of information on independence so far to make an informed choice.”
The independence issue is an ongoing political hot potato north of the border. However, Mark Fleming, panellist and joint head of the Scottish region for Savills, said: “I don’t see an apocalypse situation happening. Independence will damage business, but it won’t be catastrophic.”
Liam Smyth, membership director at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said the period after the referendum will be when uncertainty in the market will really kick in. “There is a risk of uncertainty for businesses both up to the referendum date and beyond it. There will really be uncertainty when the government is in negotiation mode,” he said.
Other hot topics tackled at the event included congestion and infrastructure issues in the city, the dearth of grade-A office space, lack of employment land, a shortfall in housing provision and the proposed new site for the Aberdeen exhibition centre.
The panel also comprised Michael Spence, partner at law firm Bond Dickinson and Carol Benzie, managing director of Aberdeen International Airport.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
