erat_forte Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 When I lived down south I always thought the CBI was a very partisan and self-interestid little lobby group. So really I was not so surprised by this latest escapade: http://newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/9080-cbi-under-pressure-over-lack-of-consultation-before-joining-no-campaign Looks like a fair few member organisations (e.g. the big universities) which have a legal duty to be politically neutral have already resigned. Is this a serious blow for the CBI, or does it regard its northern members as irritating add-ons which it will be happy to dump? Do English charities and Universities have a similarly statutory duty to resign their memberships on political neutrality grounds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonguest Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 When I lived down south I always thought the CBI was a very partisan and self-interestid little lobby group. So really I was not so surprised by this latest escapade: http://newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/9080-cbi-under-pressure-over-lack-of-consultation-before-joining-no-campaign Looks like a fair few member organisations (e.g. the big universities) which have a legal duty to be politically neutral have already resigned. Is this a serious blow for the CBI, or does it regard its northern members as irritating add-ons which it will be happy to dump? Do English charities and Universities have a similarly statutory duty to resign their memberships on political neutrality grounds? Do ANY universities actually legally HAVE to be politically neutral???!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stainless Sam Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) It means you should always be careful about reading the dross on many Scottish websites during the campaign. You can be assured that after the dust has settled they'll all be rejoining as platinum members again. Self interest means they can't afford to be outside and a few months on the sidelines will placate the odd bolshie student. Presumably, the CBI has a duty to represent the interests of the majority of its members. not just a few in the future land of milk and honey. Edited April 22, 2014 by Stainless Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erat_forte Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 I thought it was to do with being a registered charity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunnered Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) [Delete: cocked it up thanks to new software] Edited April 22, 2014 by Scunnered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunnered Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) Erat Forte says: Is this a serious blow for the CBI, or does it regard its northern members as irritating add-ons which it will be happy to dump? I'm guessing the latter. One of the commentators in the Scotsman report on this story ( http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/scottish-independence-universities-quit-cbi-1-3383002) says Who exactly is CBI Scotland and who do they represent?According to recent research, there are 269,780 business enterprises in Scotland, with 148,760 Scottish owned.The CBI Scotland's own Business Directory shows that that their membership amounts to the grand total of 62! (Somewhat less now).By contrast, the Federation of Small Businesses has more than 20,000 members. Edited April 22, 2014 by Scunnered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 [Delete: cocked it up thanks to new software] You are Gordon whatsisname blaming the others for your mistake and I claim my £5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunnered Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 You are Gordon whatsisname blaming the others for your mistake and I claim my £5 No irt's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 No irt's International Refugee Trusts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1929crash Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Erat Forte says: I'm guessing the latter. One of the commentators in the Scotsman report on this story ( http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/scottish-independence-universities-quit-cbi-1-3383002) says The FSB has 20,000 members in Scotland! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybong Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) The CBI Scotland spokesman had said that the issue was raised at a meeting of its members and that they were "very much at one" with his organisation's calls for an early ballot. However Mr McMillan was forced to admit that his claims were false after several business figures at the meeting, which was also attended by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, issued public statements challenging his claims. The usual level of democracy. Edited April 22, 2014 by billybong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AThirdWay Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 The usual level of democracy. To be fair, the CBI has a very small percentage of Scottish members. The vast majority will worry about extra cross-border costs in the event of independence, and regardless of whether or not these fears will be realised, will regard the status quo as the option wth the least risk. However, the problem is John Cridland. Through his ineptness, he has suggested to the Scottish members that they are irrelevent, and rendered the CBI irrelevent in Scotland. Cridland argued that devolution would be detrimental to Scotland in 2007. He was spectacularly wrong then, nobody has a high opinion of his predictions now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunnered Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 The FSB has 20,000 members in Scotland! Seems reasonable. Their website (http://www.fsb.org.uk/about) says The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has 200,000 members across 33 regions and 194 branches. That's a lot of members! It's about one member for every 300 people in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybong Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) To be fair, the CBI has a very small percentage of Scottish members. The vast majority will worry about extra cross-border costs in the event of independence, and regardless of whether or not these fears will be realised, will regard the status quo as the option wth the least risk. However, the problem is John Cridland. Through his ineptness, he has suggested to the Scottish members that they are irrelevent, and rendered the CBI irrelevent in Scotland. Cridland argued that devolution would be detrimental to Scotland in 2007. He was spectacularly wrong then, nobody has a high opinion of his predictions now. Even so making false claims about the outcome of an official meeting is far removed from democracy - from whichever side of the independence argument. Edited April 22, 2014 by billybong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Its just like barroso telling the scots they wont let them in as an independent nation. Of course they will (why the scots want to be part of such a vile, manipulative bureaucracy is another matter...) they just close ranks with the existing westminster establishment. When that is swept away, it'll all conveniently be forgotten, and they'll rebrand themselves as being staunch supporters of scottish independence. I still remember in the late 90s/early 00s when Brown was feverishly trying to combat the one thing Hague did get the public's attention on, not joining the euro. By the credit crunch, Brown had reversed history and framed himself as a staunch defensive of monetary sovereignty. They talk about change a lot, but if its not in their narrow scope that they think they have control over, its all bad change, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AThirdWay Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Even so making false claims about the outcome of an official meeting is far removed from democracy - from whichever side of the independence argument. Indeed, if it weren't for Cridland's pathetic attempt at presenting the CBI as an united front, when it clearly wasn't, this would be a non-story. I'm was amazed that Tony Banks kept Balhousie in the CBI for so long, but he was obviously biding his time, giving Cridland enough rope. Well played sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmonitor Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Meanwhile sticking to their remit of commenting on the economy, they report the strongest reading on their industrial trends survey since 1995. It will be interesting to see what the GDP Q1 preliminaries come in at next week, I reckon maybe +1% Q on Q. https://mninews.marketnews.com/content/uk-cbi-quarterly-industry-new-orders-highest-1995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1929crash Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 The BBC have now left - but why on earth were they members in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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