Conservatives who say they wish David Cameron success but in reality intend for him to fail need to be honest about their true intentions, so say pro-European group Business for New Europe. Responding to a letter in the Telegraph, Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe said:

"It's very well Conservatives for Britain to say they wish David Cameron 'every success' in his renegotiation but they need to be clear about what reforms they support. If they truly support the Prime Minister then if he is successful in obtaining the reforms he aims to achieve then they will support a Yes vote.

"If on the other hand they want to wait until Cameron presents his package and then say he has failed, they need to be honest about that. What are their true intentions?"

"You can either negotiate like adults, finding areas of common ground, or hold a gun to people's heads and stamp your foot."- Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Eurosceptics are wrong to demand a British veto over all EU laws, according to Business for New Europe. The pro-European business campaign was reacting to the launch of a report by anti-European group Business for Britain, alleging that the government is trying to get Brussels to allow the House of Commons to veto all EU legislation.

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

"We fully agree with the need to reduce red tape, push for free trade deals and protect non-Eurozone members like Britain. We have allies across Europe on many of the things we'd like to see. 

"While Business for Britain have done an admirable job of bringing together the Government's reform proposals, they have been somewhat economical with the truth: the Government has never suggested a UK-only veto, instead a system of red cards for several countries working together. William Hague in fact said a unilateral pick and choose system 'would not work.'

"As for the threat 'change, or go', you can either negotiate like adults, finding areas of common ground, or hold a gun to people's heads and stamp your foot. I think the encouraging noises from other EU leaders after the Prime Minister's recent diplomatic tour has shown that the former stands the best chance of success."

Business leaders today said that the EU referendum would be a chance to have a national conversation about Britain's future and how the country benefits from Europe.

Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks said:

"I'm a huge fan of Europe and don't understand why we'd want to walk away from the largest market in the world. It seems madness to leave something we benefit so much from. Those who want to leave can't explain how or why we would be any better off outside."

Lucy Thomas, campaign director of Business for New Europe, said:

"Now the referendum is officially on the way, we will be making the case loud and clear for why we should remain in.

"Just today a new survey has found that 72% of investors choose the UK because of our access to the world's largest market. Why would we want to leave?"

“It is unfair that 16 and 17 year olds can fight for their country in the armed forces but not have a say over Britain's future place in the world”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

The EU referendum is too important for the future of the UK to exclude 16 and 17 year olds, said business leaders response to the draft question to be published by the Government. Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign said that the outcome would have a long-lasting and irreversible impact on the country so young people should not be denied a say in their future. 

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

“This vote will have profound implications for the future of the UK and that will affect people of all ages. It is unfair that 16 and 17 year olds can fight for their country in the armed forces but not have a say over Britain's future place in the world. 

"The Scottish referendum set the precedent and showed how passionate and involved young people were. The EU question is a comparable constitutional issue and young people should get their say"

The campaign to keep Britain in Europe will be new and different to what has gone before, according to Business for New Europe. Whatever organisation emerges will not be simply an amalgamation of pro-European groups, and will focus on all there arguments for remaining in the EU, not just the business case.

BNE was commenting in response to the Independent exclusive, which talked of pro-EU organisations "joining forces" to set up the "In" campaign.

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

"Of course all pro-European organisations have been thinking about this referendum for a long while, but any campaign will be something new and different rather than an amalgamation of existing groups.

"The benefits of remaining in should be made by a new campaign with a range of surprising and different people from all walks of life. While the economic case is clearly important, this has to be about the value to everybody across the UK and not a top-down message perceived to come only from politicians and the 'establishment'."

"It is also too early to speculate about any name of a campaign - there is no clarity on any Yes/No question until the Bill has gone through Parliament."

Another major company has spoken out about how vital Britain's EU membership is to their business. Speaking about the benefits of Europe to Wales and the rest of the UK, President of Airbus, Paul Kahn will say that everything Airbus manufactures in Wales and the rest of UK from research to investment and employees "all depend on European industrial organisation and integration.”

Airbus employ 16,000 people across the UK and are the second largest private sector employer in Wales.

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

"Airbus are a major British employer with 16,000 staff across the UK. It is clear that their major investment is largely linked to our EU membership. There is growing momentum as a range of companies are starting to speak out for the benefits of Britain's future in Europe.

"They all agree that Europe needs reform, but this is clearly best achieved by remaining in and making the case with a strong voice."

“Sir Mike Rake is right that businesses must speak out about Britain’s future in Europe. We cannot leave it to the last minute as was the case in the Scottish referendum."
- Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

Business for New Europe, the business coalition advocating a positive case for reform in Europe, today echoed comments to be made by CBI President Sir Mike Rake, calling on businesses to speak out about the benefits of EU membership. They also urged businesses to speak out soon, rather than waiting until it could be too late.

Sir Mike Rake, who also sits on BNE’s advisory council, will emphasise that EU membership is in Britain’s national interest, and that the time is ripe for reform to push for completion of the single market, free trade and a capital markets union.

Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:

“Sir Mike Rake is right that businesses must speak out about Britain’s future in Europe. We cannot leave it to the last minute as was the case in the Scottish referendum. The overwhelming majority of chief executives and chairmen across business believe that Britain’s future is in the European Union.

“In the last week we have heard from a range of companies of all size explaining how a UK exit from the EU could adversely affect them, from easyJet to Deutsche Bank and Innocent Drinks. Brexit would be seriously damage Britain’s economy.”

“Minimising EU regulations is exactly what British businesses want. The UK has been pushing for a reduction in red tape and this demonstrates how that is taking shape.”
- Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

The UK’s drive to cut EU red tape is having a clear impact, as the European Commission has outlined a major shake-up of EU rules. Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign welcomed the plans which will allow SMEs to feed directly into EU policy-making and will allow open and public scrutiny of proposed rules and far more rigorous impact assessments.

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

“Here is a clear example of the new Commission Vice President shaking-up how things are done. For the first time ever small and medium-sized business will be able to input directly into EU decision-making.

“There is still some way to go to make the EU work better for business, but this demonstrates that progress is being made.
 

"Minimising EU regulations is exactly what British businesses want. The UK has been pushing for a reduction in red tape and this demonstrates how that is taking shape.”

"Outside the EU we would have no say over the rules and our economy would be damaged"
- Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Pro-European business leaders have challenged comments made by JCB Chairman, Lord Bamford, that the UK would be unaffected were we to leave the EU.

Speaking to the BBC under embargo, Lord Bamford said that the UK "could negotiate as our own country rather than being one of 28 nations in Brussels as we are today."

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

"Of course JCB and others could continue selling their goods to Europe if we left, but they could face tariffs and they would have to meet EU standards, with no influence on what they were. Surely a seat at the table when rules are decided is better than no say at all?”

"We also benefit from free trade deals with over 50 countries all over the world and outside the EU we would lose all of those. Renegotiating would take years and why would global powers listen to the UK with 65 million consumers more than the EU as a bloc with 500 million?"

"Companies who say they would reconsider their presence in the UK really mean it. They will go wherever makes business sense and if the UK is no longer competitive, they will not stay.”