List of endorsements in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum

This page lists individuals and organisations who publicly expressed an opinion regarding the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Not all of the individuals listed were able to vote in the referendum, even some of those with a Scottish background.

Against independence

Political parties

Registered political parties
Non-participant political parties

Campaigning groups and individuals

The following organisations and individuals registered with the Electoral Commission as supporting a No vote.[1]

Publications

Newspapers
Magazines

Businesses

Trade unions

Other organisations

Individuals

Politicians

Contested elections with Scotland
Within the rest of the United Kingdom
International

Business people

Actors

Musicians

Sportspeople

Writers and academics

Other public figures

For independence

Political parties

Registered political parties
Non-participant political parties

Campaigning groups and individuals

The following groups and individuals registered with the Electoral Commission as supporting a Yes vote.[1]

Publications

Newspapers

Trade unions

Other organisations

Individuals

Politicians

Contested elections with Scotland
Within the rest of the United Kingdom
International

Business people

Actors

Musicians

Sportspeople

Writers and academics

Other public figures

Officially endorse neither side

After the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) attempted to register with the Electoral Commission as a group supporting a "no" vote in the referendum, several organisations resigned or suspended their membership of the CBI in order to maintain their neutrality.[335] The CBI had its registration annulled,[336] with its director saying that the attempt to register had given the misleading impression that it was a political entity.[337]

Political parties

Publications

Newspapers

Trade unions

Businesses

Other organisations

Individuals

Other opinions

A compilation of "doubters" by Better Together and journalist Simon Johnson was published by the Daily Telegraph on 24 March 2014.[375] It listed individuals and organisations who have raised concerns about Scottish independence, although they have not necessarily expressed outright opposition.[375] During the financial reporting season in early 2014, several companies (including Aggreko, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Standard Life, Royal Bank of Scotland, Macfarlane Group and Breedon Aggregates) listed Scottish independence as an issue in their risk management sections.[376]

Businessmen, including Sir Tom Hunter and Sir Tom Farmer, called for more clarity in the referendum debate to best make a decision.[377]

In 2012, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) published a report called A Just Scotland, which laid out "challenges for both sides of the debate", in particular calling on Better Together to "outline a practical vision of how social and economic justice can be achieved within the union".[378] The STUC had previously refused an offer to join the Better Together campaign.[379]

References