Voters will be not swayed by the views of business leaders trotted out by both sides of the referendum campaign, it was claimed last night.
Robert Collier, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said the electorate is “far more intelligent” than politicians give them credit for to be taken in by partisan claims.
As the referendum campaign hits the final stretch, both the Yes and No camps have wheeled out business figures to back up their respective positions about the impact of tomorrow’s vote.
Mr Collier said most statements from the business community have been “corralled” by each side for their own purposes.
“Do the partisan opinions corralled by the two campaigns influence votes?” he questioned.
“No, I don’t think they do because I think the electorate is far more intelligent than any politician gives them credit for and they make up their own mind. They can spot if it is partial or impartial.”
Mr Collier accused both camps or misrepresenting impartial statements which companies are obliged to release in order to notify the stock exchange about any perceived new risk to their operation.
The recent statement by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) about re-registering in England in the event of a Yes vote was “twisted by the two campaigns to suite their own narrative”, he said.
While the unionists claimed RBS’ statement highlighted the jobs threat posed by independence, Alex Salmond claimed it was just a “brass plaque” exercise.
“That response by the two campaigns to straightforward, neutral statements from business is what the electorate won’t trust because they can spot partiality when they see it,” Mr Collier said.
A survey answered by 500 of the chamber’s 4,000 owners and managers among its members showed that 65% were “likely” to vote No and 22% Yes.
Mr Collier said survey questions to determine the strength of voting intentions showed around a third of respondents had yet to fully make up their minds.
“We have always argued this is about individual voters attitudes to risk and opportunity,” he said.
“It depends on how the perceptions of risk and opportunity register with the undecided when they get the pencil in their hand, which makes it (the ballot) virtually impossible to predict.”