Abandoning our place in Europe would threaten jobs, harm the economy and squeeze the life out of the NHS, say business leaders. Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign, was responding to the comments of James Hicks, MD of the Manpower Group, a major recruitment firm.
Mr Hicks said that leaving the EU would create “a vast amount of uncertainty and instability”, which would “threaten jobs and harm Britain’s prospects.” On free movement, Mr Hicks said the NHS was "struggling” to cope with moving to an all-hours services, and EU exit could "further these skill shortages.”
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
“The only way we can afford high-quality public services is to have a growing economy, and a system that is open to bring in talent from around the world. Business is clear that Brexit would harm these goals. The major recruitment firm Manpower says that Brexit would harm our economy, by putting up barriers to trade and making Britain less attractive to investment. And the fog of uncertainty surrounding the ‘out’ option raises far more questions about Britain’s future than it answers.
“Our NHS depends on foreign doctors and nurses, many of them from the EU. Raising the drawbridge to skilled labour from abroad would squeeze the life out of the health service, at a time when it is facing significant financial pressures.”
Contacts
To contact the Business for New Europe press office, call 020 7256 6582 or 07779 639460, or email [email protected].
To contact the Business for New Europe press office, call 020 7256 6582 or 07779 639460, or email [email protected].
Notes for editors
Read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33058006
Business for New Europe is an independent coalition of business leaders advocating a positive case for reform in Europe. Our Advisory Council includes Chairmen and CEOs of FTSE100 companies and our Executive consists of experts in foreign and economic policy, including former heads of the UK diplomatic services and senior journalists.
We provide a platform for debate on European issues to business leaders and policy makers. We publish research, hold seminars and conferences and seek to ensure that a reasoned, pro-European voice is heard in the UK.
We are a not-for-profit organisation funded by donations from the private sector with offices in London and Brussels.
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