More than half of north-east business leaders say the outcome of David Cameron’s EU negotiations is unlikely to sway their vote in the upcoming referendum.
Polling from the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) suggests 75% of industry chiefs in the region back staying in the EU, while 18% would vote to leave.
The survey reported 55% of businesses were unlikely to change their mind on how to vote, regardless of any deal the Prime Minister wins during on-going crunch talks in Brussels.
The chamber carried out the poll, which had 115 responses, between January 25 and February 4 – before European Council President Donald Tusk’s letter of response to David Cameron’s negotiations was published.
Liam Smyth, membership director of AGCC, said: “It appears the prime minister’s negotiations are not affecting our members’ decisions as the number saying that the results are unlikely to sway them has actually risen since we last surveyed our members in September.
“Despite more than nine out of 10 of our members saying that the referendum has had no material impact on their business so far, they know that it is a subject that will affect everyone.”
The poll also indicated that business chiefs in the north-east are becoming more interested in the debate, with 68% now following it at least weekly, compared with 37% in September.
More than two thirds said that if the prime minister’s negotiation process was successful, the results would have a positive impact in reducing red tape and boosting competitiveness.
Nearly half expected a positive impact from negotiating an exemption from “ever closer union”, although less than a third saw restricting EU migrants’ access to tax credits as having a positive impact on business.