LONDON: More than 130 business leaders have urged Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom, arguing in an open letter published Wednesday that the case for independence has not been made.
"The United Kingdom gives business the strong platform we must have to invest in jobs and industry. By all continuing to work together, we can keep Scotland flourishing," they wrote in a letter to The Scotsman newspaper before next month's crunch referendum.
Signatories include HSBC bank chairman Douglas Flint, Co-operative Bank boss Niall Booker, and Andrew Mackenzie, who is head of global mining titan BHP Billiton.
The business leaders said the argument for independence was shrouded in uncertainty.
"As job creators, we have looked carefully at the arguments made by both sides of the debate," they said.
"Our conclusion is that the business case for independence has not been made.
"Uncertainty surrounds a number of vital issues including currency, regulation, tax, pensions, EU membership and support for our exports around the world; and uncertainty is bad for business."
The Scottish business leaders -- who signed the letter in a personal capacity -- also included the director of whisky firm William Grant & Sons, the boss of clothing maker Harris Tweed Hebrides, and the chief executive of engineering firm Weir Group.
"Our economic ties inside the United Kingdom are very close and support almost one million Scottish jobs," the letter added.
"The rest of the UK is Scotland's biggest market by far."
Other signatories were Ian Curle, chief executive of Famous Grouse whisky producer Erdington, and Simon Thomson, boss of oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy.
Scotland votes on September 18 in a referendum that could spell the end of its 300-year-old union with England.
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