Following the result of the Scottish Parliament Election 2016, Miller Mathieson, executive director at CBRE Scotland, said:
“Now we know the SNP has won the election without a majority, the priority must be to provide certainty for the business community about the way forward so that key decisions can be made in a stable environment. We increasingly live in a world where decisions are being made on a global basis and we want to ensure that Scotland is seen as a favourable place to work and invest. The underlying strengths of our two biggest cities provide a great foundation for future success if we can create the right political and economic environment, which is what the SNP now needs to focus on. With the challenges facing Aberdeen it is important that there is a major emphasis on supporting the city with key infrastructure projects.”
Andrew Marston, director in the Research team at CBRE, added: “Potentially Scotland may face more uncertainty, particularly with the SNP in power, given there are now only 48 days until the UK-wide referendum on membership of the European Union. Despite all the policies described in the SNP’s Scottish election manifesto, the outcome of the EU referendum on 23 June has the potential to be most critical factor for the future direction of Scotland. A vote to leave the EU is likely to be regarded as a material change in circumstances by the SNP which is therefore likely to push for a second independence referendum. However in the event of a vote to remain, it will be largely business as usual.”