Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:

“This report demonstrates just how damaging Brexit would be to the City and the British economy as a whole. Britain would lose the ability to trade freely across Europe and would have no influence over the rules.

“It makes clear that the financial services would be one of the sectors hardest hit in Britain. We already hear of banks looking at property overseas in order to be ready to relocate if necessary. Given that a tenth of Britain’s taxes come from the City, leaving the EU would be a huge blow to our economy.”

Responding to the survey published by the British Chamber of Commerce on Britain’s place in Europe, Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said: 

“The overwhelming majority of British business leaders want to see the UK remain inside a reformed European Union, and focus on cutting down red tape and streamlining the institutions, not put jobs and growth at risk by walking away.

“But the results of this survey by the BCC are a stark reminder that businesses would not carry on as normal if we left the largest market in the world. Nearly half of the businesses surveyed say that if Britain were to leave, it would have a negative impact on their ability to grow, with only 14 per cent saying it would be beneficial.

“Business leaders know that a British exit from Europe is not a risk worth taking: we still face a tough economic climate so it makes no sense to put jobs and investment in jeopardy here in the UK.

"Businesses have a vital part to play in this referendum debate, making clear the impacts and implications of Britain shutting itself off from its largest trade partner. Businesses are stronger because of our EU membership and it is right that they should have their say.”

/ends 



Notes to Editors:
In a recent survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants:

• 76% of their members said they favour the UK remaining in the EU
• 51% said a British exit would have a negative impact on their organisation
• 7% say it would have a positive impact on their organisation

http://www.cgma.org/magazine/news/pages/eu-membership-good-for-british-business-201512885.aspx?TestCookiesEnabled=redirect

In a recent survey conducted by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators:

• 74% of FTSE finance directors said they believe it is in the interests of British business to stay in the EU
• 91% said they believe the UK’s export performance has benefited from EU membership
• 89% say Britain has attracted foreign direct investment due to EU membership

Business for New Europe
http://www.businessforneweurope.org/

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said: 

"Once again UK businesses have made clear that they support Britain remaining a member of the European Union. 

"The report from the Federation of Small Businesses highlights the deep concern that many of its members have about a possible British exit, and the FSB's commitment today to have a 'strong voice' in the referendum debate is a welcome commitment. 

"As the referendum campaign fires up, it is vital that businesses large and small continue to make their voices heard. Businesses are stronger because of our EU membership and it is right that they should have their say.

"Small businesses employ over 15 million people in the UK, and they rely on our place in Europe. Walking away from the world's largest single market would be bad for business and bad for Britain."

Britain's place in the world would be diminished if we were to leave the EU , US President Barack Obama has said. Pro-European business campaign, Business for New Europe, said this showed how damaging it would be to the future of Britain's interests outside Europe. Obama said that the UK's EU membership "gives us much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union", putting paid to the idea of some kind of special relationship for Britain outside the EU.

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:

"President Obama's comments underline the essential strategic importance of the UK's place in Europe: it is because of our membership that we are valued as such an important ally. The President's carefully considered words show once again what is at stake in this referendum campaign. 
  
"Because our place in Europe doesn't just make sense in Washington, our status in capitals around the world is enhanced by our place at Europe's top table.
 
"Those who are now campaigning for EU exit now have a responsibility to explain to the British people what 'out' would really look like for the UK. What damage would a British exit cause to our strategic partnerships - such as our longstanding relationship with the United States? And how would the UK influence global affairs without a voice inside the world's largest single market?
 
"Those who campaign for exit have long ignored the facts about the economic benefits of the UK's EU membership, but they can no longer ignore the impact exit could have on our influence in world affairs."

Business leaders say the latest survey of FTSE-350 companies is a “wake-up call” for those calling for Britain to quit the EU. The new survey of company secretaries shows that the majority believe a British exit from Europe would damage UK companies, posing a risk to jobs and growth. 

Responding to the survey by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) which states 63 per cent of their members see a British exit from Europe as “damaging” to their business, Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said: 

“This report makes clear that British business have serious concerns about the damage that a British exit from Europe could cause. The overwhelming majority of British business leaders want to see the UK remain inside a reformed European Union,and focus on cutting down red tape and streamlining the institutions, not put jobs and growth at risk by walking away.

“The results of this survey of FTSE-350 companies are a real wake-up call for those who claim that British business would simply carry on as normal outside the single market, without access to Europe’s 500 million consumers. 

“And under any of the scenarios proposed by those arguing for a British exit, it is simply impossible for them to address the concerns expressed by business leaders including just how many jobs could be lost here in the UK. 

“Business leaders know that a British exit from Europe is not a risk worth taking, because at a time when we still face a challenging economic climate, it makes no sense to put jobs and investment in jeopardy.” 

The new EU plan to abolish mobile phone roaming charges across Europe will save British holidaymakers money, says Business for New Europe. The pro-European business campaign was commenting on the provisional deal reached in Brussels last night to eliminate all roaming charges on calls, texts or data by June 2017. The parties also agreed to cut roaming charges to a maximum of just €0.05 per minute per call by 2016 as an interim step. Member states and the EU institutions also reached agreement on a net neutrality package to protect personal data.
 
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Roaming charges are one of the hidden costs of the summer holiday, so it is brilliant that that these could be scrapped after 2017. It's a great example of Europe working together to cut costs and stand up for consumers to stop them being ripped off.
 
“Holidays are much cheaper and easier thanks to Europe: the cost of flights has come down 40% and borderless travel has removed the need for visas. Pulling out of Europe would simply mean that Britons would cease to enjoy the advantages of being in.”