Editor's comment: Brokers more measured than Mel

Jonathan Swift

This week, Scottish independence - and where businesses stand on the issue - was in the headlines, and very few major firms have raised their heads over the parapet to express a view on the subject.

SSE, the owner of Southern Electric and Edinburgh-based construction and property company Miller Group, is among just a handful who have decided to join the debate since the turn of the year.

For its part, SSE said there was "increased risk" that it will decide not to build new power stations and wind farms in Scotland before the referendum, while the Miller Group CEO Keith Miller called for an early conclusion to uncertainty over independence plans.

But, in the main, most Scottish business bosses have remained under the radar despite speculation that the financial services industry could be among the largest opponents to independence, based on the assumption that it relies on access to the UK market and its unified regulatory and taxation regimes.

The pro-independence lobby was dealt a savage blow this week when a survey by the Forum of Private Business found just 14% of Scottish firms quizzed about devolution said they wanted to break from the Union.

The majority of small firms quizzed by the not-for-profit group instead said they preferred either more devolved powers (40%), or no change to the current arrangement (35%).

In fairness, only a quarter (26%) of Scottish firms felt a referendum on separation would be harmful to their business, the most common fear cited as some form of backlash or resentment south of the border.

But, disappointingly for those pro-independence, only 10% felt that the referendum campaign could be advantageous to their business.

So, where does the insurance industry stand? A snapshot of a number of independent brokers this week backs the findings of the FPB, firms expressing concerns that it would make business with England-based insurers more difficult, increase business costs and mean inevitable redundancies.

Ultimately, in a sector where the uncertainty and cost of regulation are day-to-day occupational hazards, having another unknown hanging over their heads is not making life any easier for small businessmen and women.

So, until the many questions these firms have get answered, brokers and loss adjusters will continue to err on the side of caution, no matter how much they enjoyed Mel Gibson in Braveheart. And we all know what a great role model he has turned out to be recently ...

Jonathan Swift, editor in chief

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