Business for Scotland

Business for Scotland is a business network and business and economic policy think tank consisting of and representing business people who support Scottish independence.[1]

Business for Scotland
Formation2012
FocusScottish prosperity
Key people
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, Richard Arkless, Tony Banks,Councillor Niall John McLean, Graeme McCormick, Ian McDougall, Gillian O'Neill, Rob Aberdein, Jil Murphy, Donald Maclean, Kenny Anderson, Michelle Rodger, Michelle Thomson, David Cairns, Sandy Adam
Websitebusinessforscotland.co.uk

Formation

Business for Scotland was founded by six Scottish business owners and directors, and generated over 250 members by word-of-mouth prior to the launch of its website. The organisation's membership had risen to 350 by the time of its official launch in May 2013, where it was publicly backed by Falklands War veteran and Scottish entrepreneur, Tony Banks.[2][3] Business for Scotland membership at the time of the referendum was approximately 3,000.

Prominent business people

Tony Banks (Balhousie Care Group),[4] Graeme McCormick (Conveyancing Direct), Ian McDougall (McDougall Johnstone/ The Glasgow Distillery),[4] Gillian O'Neill (29 Studios), Rob Aberdein (Walker Morris), Jil Murphy (Thin Red Line/ Head of BfS Edinburgh), Donald Maclean (Business Cost Consultants), Kenny Anderson (Anderson Construction), David Cairns (PrismTech/ Head of BfS Perth), Sandy Adam (Springfield Properties), Brian Souter (Souter Investments). Jim Mather, who was a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish National Party (SNP) between 2003 and 2011, and served as Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism under the 2007-11 SNP government, was a director at the organisation.[5][6] Michelle Rodger died in August 2021[7] having been Head of BfS Glasgow.

Scottish referendum

Business for Scotland Ltd registered with the Electoral Commission as a "permitted participant" on the Yes side in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[8] It spent £143,027 campaigning at the independence referendum[9] making it the largest spender of all the registered participant groups. After the referendum it was revealed that Business for Scotland received a £100,000 donation from Stagecoach founder Brain Souter.

The Founder and Chief Executive of the organisation, and registered responsible person with the electoral commission was Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp.[10] The organisation was chaired during the referendum by Tony Banks.

Pro-Unionist blogger Kevin Hague[4] put a complaint in to the Electoral Commission to consider whether the SNP and Business for Scotland had worked together during the Scottish referendum.[11] The Electoral Commission "found no evidence during its assessment that the SNP and BFS worked together" and consequently stated there was no need to open a full investigation into the allegations.[12] This was reported in the Herald that the Electoral Commission gave the accusations extremely short shrift.[13]

In 2017 a pro-union Scottish Business UK group was set up by Scottish businesses to argue against independence in opposition to Business for Scotland.[14]

Membership

By March 2014, membership of the organisation was claimed to be in excess of 1300.[15] As of July 2017 the membership of the organisation was claimed to be 4,000.[16][17]

Company formation

Business for Scotland, SC430989, was first registered on 23 August 2012 by a sole director named as Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp. It is registered as a private, limited by guarantee, company, with no shareholdings.

See also

References
  1. Our Goal www.businessforscotland.co.uk, 14 May 2013
  2. "Business for Scotland independence group launches". The Scotsman. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  3. "Scottish referendum: Business leaders join new pro-independence group". BBC News. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  4. Gilligan, Andrew (2014-08-31). "Small firms making big claims for Scottish independence". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  5. "CBI Scottish Business Summit 2010 :: Hilton Hotel Glasgow - 2 June 2010". Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-03. CBI, accessed 3 February 2015
  6. CIFAL, accessed 3 February 2015
  7. National, The (2021-08-28). "Tributes paid to star indy activist Michelle Rodger after death at 52". The National. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  8. "FoI response from Electoral Commission" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  9. "Electoral Commission publishes first details of spending by campaigners at the Scottish independence referendum". Electoral Commission. 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-16.
  10. Gordon, Tom (2017-02-21). "Business for Scotland boss admits losing money on his business". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  11. Sanderson, Daniel. "Electoral Commission to look at claims SNP broke indyref spending rules". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  12. "Electoral Commission concludes assessment of allegations against Business for Scotland and the Scottish National Party". Electoral Commission. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  13. "Revenge sweet for BfS as 'troll' back in his boxTurkish delight in flight plan". The Herald. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  14. Dickie, Mure (2017-09-30). "Scottish business group steps up plans to oppose referendum". Financial Times. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  15. "Member Profiles". Business for Scotland. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  16. "Head of business for Scotland joins speakers at bios conference!". Scottish Institute for Enterprise. 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  17. King, Diana (2017-07-31). "Independence offers 'business opportunity of a lifetime'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
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