Much was said about business' opinion of Cameron's EU veto in the immediate aftermath of this month's summit but, now that the dust has settled, the picture is starting to become much clearer.Today, in a letter to the FT, orchestrated by Open Europe, 20 leading business figures express their support for Cameron's veto and his willingness to "stand up for an outward-looking and competitive Britain."
Here it is in full:
Sir, It is impossible to know just how European politics or economics will develop at this juncture. However, since the UK prime minister’s recent veto of a new European Union treaty, one major point of principle is clear: Britain does not want, or intend, to be dragged deeper into a more centralised and over-regulated EU with ambitions to become a political union.We therefore believe that David Cameron deserves the full support of the business community. On this occasion, he was seeking safeguards for the financial sector, still one of Britain’s biggest industries, employing more than 1m people and contributing more than £50bn in tax revenues, but the principle is applicable to many other sectors of our economy, including manufacturing, which employs more than 2.5m people.
Meanwhile, an IoD poll has revealed that 77% of its members agree with the PM’s use of the veto, with only 19% disagreeing. The survey found that 63% of IoD members would like to see the UK in a looser relationship with the EU, including 42% who would like to see a repatriation of some powers.Those who would portray Mr Cameron’s use of the veto as bad for jobs and growth or as leaving the UK “isolated” are mistaken. The real threat to employment is the euro crisis, which was unaffected by his veto and which the recent summit did little to address. Britain has great potential to compete across the globe, if freed from badly targeted and trade-hampering government intrusions, whether from London or Brussels. Irrespective of the fate of the euro or the ability of weakened southern European economies to prosper under severe austerity programmes, it is most welcome that the prime minister has shown himself willing to stand up for an outward-looking and competitive Britain.
Rodney Leach,
Chairman, Open Europe
Anthony Bamford,
Chairman, JCB
John Barton,
Chairman, Brit Insurance Holdings
Roger Bootle,
Economist, Capital Economics
Mark Darell-Brown,
Managing Partner, Brown Vanneck
Douglas Graham,
Chairman, Express & Star Midland News
Gerard Griffin,
Portfolio Manager, GLG Partners
Robert Hiscox,
Chairman, Hiscox Underwriting
John Hoerner,
Former Chief Executive, Tesco Clothing
Geoffrey Howe,
Chairman, Jardine Lloyd Thompson
Luke Johnson,
Chairman, Risk Capital Partners
Tim Martin,
Chairman, JD Wetherspoon
Nigel McNair Scott,
Finance Director, Helical Bar
David Ord,
Managing Director, Bristol Port Company
Neil Record,
Executive Chairman, Record Currency Management
Nigel Rich,
Chairman, Segro
Hugh Sloane,
Co-founder, Sloane Robinson
Brian Williamson,
Simon Wolfson,
Chief Executive, Next
Signed in a personal capacity
Add to this our recent poll of financial services managers, before the summit, which showed that 69% supported the introduction of a British veto on EU financial rules even if it reduced access to the Single Market, and the picture is one of widespread business support not only for Cameron's veto but for a more liberal and competitive Europe.
Of course business likes the recent EU debacle. The five lies, that 3000000 jobs depend on EU, that 50% of our trade is with the EU, that the leve playing field is useful to British exporters,that most business wants to be in the EU, and that belonging to a big club is vital to compete with BRICS, are clearly exposed as lies.
ReplyDeleteLet's get out and get on, please.
Most of the signatories of this letter are from the service sector. With the exception of JCB none of them are involved in manufacturing. Yet it is the revivial of Britain's manufacturing base which, according to the government, is crucial to our economic recovery. It would be interesting to know whether the majority of British companies in the manufacturing sector share this dismissive view of the importance of the EU single market.
ReplyDeleteIt would also be interesting to know from the signatories of the letter why, in their view, Germany, which is subject to the same burden of EU regulation as Britain,( plus some of its own such as co-determination and Works Councils), is so much more competitive in international markets. Could it be that for many British companies it is not EU regulation which is the problem, but their failure to invest, innovate or train their worforce?