SCOTTISH independence and the uncertainty it will cause would be bad for business and jobs in East Lancashire, company bosses believe.

From the chief executive of the county’s biggest employer BAE Systems Ian King through to the man behind Moorhouses Brewery in Burnley David Grant, they will not be toasting a ‘Yes’ vote in tomorrow’s referendum.

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As Scots go to the polls in their millions to decide on whether to break up the United Kingdom, director of Star Tissue and chair of Blackburn with Darwen’s Hive business network Khalid Saifullah is hoping for a ‘No’ vote.

He said: “Businesses don’t like uncertainty.

“We sell in Scotland and don’t know what the impact will be in terms of duties or other regulatory changes.

“I think business in East Lancashire will, like ours, prefer a vote to stay in the UK.”

Mr King has made his views known in a blog to his workforce, thousands of whom work at Samlesbury and Warton in its Military Aircraft Division.

Mr King said: “Uncertainty is unhelpful for all of us. For that reason, we have made clear our position that, as a company, we prefer continued union.”

Mr Grant said: “We don’t sell much beer in Scotland but we would like to. I don’t think independence would help us to do that.

“I think it would result in a desire to buy all things Scottish which would not help English breweries and industries in markets up there.”

Colin Mustoe, chairman of Accrington’s Senator International Furniture, said: “In the short term a vote for independence would probably have no effect.

“In the longer term we don’t know what effect it will have on East Lancashire’s businesses.

“Personally, I would prefer Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom.

“A nation of five million people leaving an UK of 63 million doesn’t make economic sense.”

Dennis Mendoros, chief executive of Kelbrook aerospace firm Euravia, said: “I hope they vote No.

“Independence would not be good for the aerospace industry in Scotland the UK or East Lancashire.

“We are stronger in this sector as a United Kingdom.

“The country and business don’t want the uncertainty and weakness a ‘Yes’ vote would cause.”