A group of high profile business leaders including Virgin Group’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, have warned that Britain must be “in the room fighting for reform, not knocking on the door from outside.”

The leaders of major businesses including BT, easyJet and Eurostar say that as well as the “overwhelming” benefits to Britain’s businesses and the economy, Britain as a whole is stronger, with 27 other countries being able to face common global problems.

The group backed the Prime Minister’s call for EU reform, arguing that Europe needs to be “more efficient, streamlined and competitive.  With reform on the agenda for the EU meeting in Brussels, the group said: “Of course, the EU is far from perfect and that is why the Prime Minister is right to call for change.”

The letter is back by UK businesses large and small, including the founder of Hogan’s Cider, Allen Hogan and the co-founder of Innocent Drinks, Richard Reed.

Between them, the companies employ at least 133,000 in the UK, and have a combined estimated annual turnover of £25bn.

Sir,

As business leaders from a variety of sectors, from businesses of all sizes, we believe it is overwhelmingly in Britain’s interests to remain in the EU.

This country is stronger as part of the largest market in the world, with half a billion people. We can trade freely with just one set of rules across the whole of Europe. We also benefit from Europe’s free trade deals with more than 50 countries around the world.

Britain as a whole is stronger too: together with our European partners we can best address common problems that respect no borders, such as crime and environmental protection; we stand firm with 27 other countries in the face of common threats; and each UK household benefits by an average of £3,000 per year. Of course the EU is far from perfect and that is why the prime minister is right to call for change to make it more efficient, streamlined and competitive. 

Britain has shown in the past that where we make the case for change we can win. Reform is an ongoing process that needs to happen now and long into the future. The best way to secure that is to be in the room fighting for it, not outside knocking on the door.

Sir Mike Rake, chairman, BT;

Sir Roger Carr, chairman, BAE Systems;

Sir Richard Branson, founder, Virgin Group;

Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP;

Roland Rudd, chairman, Business for New Europe and Finsbury;

Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive, Eurostar;

Martin Glenn, CEO, Football Association;

Lord Kerr, deputy chairman, Scottish Power;

Juergen Maier, chief executive, Siemens UK;

Carolyn McCall, chief executive, easyJet;

Richard Reed, founder, Innocent Drinks;

Malcolm Sweeting, senior partner, Clifford Chance LLP,

Sir Nigel Sheinwald, non-executive director, Royal Dutch Shell;

Tim Eggar, chairman, Cape plc;

Mark Ansonia, director, Business Process Consultants;

Baron Armah-Kwantreng, director, BaKLex Consulting;

Laura Cohen, chief executive, British Ceramic Confederation;

Daniel Dayan, chairman and chief executive, LINPAC Packaging;

Uday Dholakia, chairman, National Asian Business Association;

John Gloster-Smith, co-founder, The Empowering Partnership;

Allen Hogan, founder, Hogan’s Cider;

John Mckerchar, managing director, Turnberry Rug Works;

Cornelia Meyer, chief executive and chairman, MRL Corporation;

Gina Miller, founder, SCM Group and the True and Fair campaign;

Sir Michael Pakenham, senior adviser, Access Industries;

Christoph Rieche, CEO, iwoca;
Chris Thurling, founder, Thurling Jones