500 business leaders tell David Cameron tp negotiate a better deal with Europe

500 business leaders tell David Cameron to negotiate a better deal with
Europe


A group of 500 business leaders have called on the Coalition to negotiate a
better deal for Britain with Brussels.








Sir Stuart Rose is one of the
backers of the new Business for Britain campaign Photo: Tom
Stockill






By Christopher Hope, Senior Political
Correspondent

6:00AM BST 22 Apr 2013


16 Comments




David Cameron has pledged to claw back powers and then offer voters a choice
of staying in the European Union in a referendum by the end of 2017, if the
Conservatives are returned to power at the next election.


The new Business for Britain campaign backed the Prime Minister’s approach to
renegotiation and called for a cross-party “national drive to renegotiate the
terms of Britain’s membership of the EU”.


The campaign is planning to open regional offices across the UK, and run high
profile advertising campaigns over the next few years. It is hoping to come up
with red lines ahead of next summer's European elections.


Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of online retailer Ocado, Lord Wolfson, chief
executive of Next, Carpetright founder Lord Harris and Nick Jenkins, founder of
Moonpig.com, are among the 500 people associated with businesses from blue chip
firms to small companies who have signed up to the campaign.


In a joint statement, they say: “As business leaders and entrepreneurs
responsible for millions of British jobs, we believe that the Government is
right to seek a new deal for the EU and for the UK’s role in Europe.


“Far from being a threat to our economic interests, a flexible, competitive
Europe - with more powers devolved from Brussels - is essential for growth, jobs
and access to markets.

“We therefore welcome the launch of Business for Britain’s campaign for real
change in the EU and urge all political parties to join in committing themselves
to a national drive to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership of the EU.”


The group’s co-chairman Alan Halsall, boss of pram maker Silver Cross, said:
“Business for Britain has been formed because many would have you believe that
business doesn't want politicians to try and renegotiate a better deal from
Europe.

“But we know that jobs and economic growth depend on a more flexible, looser
relationship with the EU. Just as Business for Sterling stopped Britain joining
the Euro, Business for Britain will get us this better deal.”

JML founder John Mills added: “This campaign is not about taking political
sides or backing the right horse – it’s about doing what's best for British
business.

“I have been a member of the Labour Party for 40 years, others supporting the
campaign are supporters of different political parties or none at all.

“The important part is that the signatories to Business for Britain want to
show the country that business does not fear Britain’s politicians seeking a
better deal from Brussels.”

However Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for the New Europe said the calls
were "very dangerous".

He said: "It is right that the EU needs reforming and as Business for New
Europe has long argued, it needs to be made more competitive, flexible and
business-friendly.

"However, calling for 'renegotiation' or 'repatriation' with a special
arrangement for Britain is very dangerous. We should instead be pushing for
multilateral reforms, where our European neighbours can agree to changes which
benefit them too.

"Calling for unilateral British opt-outs will only serve to isolate Britain
further amongst EU leaders in the midst of a Eurozone crisis, and leave the
Prime Minister unable to reach any agreement at all."

Full list of signatories (all have signed in a personal capacity)


"As business leaders and entrepreneurs responsible for millions of
British jobs, we believe that the Government is right to seek a new deal for the
EU and for the UK’s role in Europe. Far from being a threat to our economic
interests, a flexible, competitive Europe, with more powers devolved from
Brussels, is essential for growth, jobs and access to markets. We therefore
welcome the launch of Business for Britain’s campaign for real change in the EU
and urge all political parties to join in committing themselves to a national
drive to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership of the EU."

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The list is published but too long to post, some real heavyweights , but I still think the EU is too cumbersome to change much . The only thing that would make a radical difference is if the EURO cannot be sustained and Countries go back to their own currency.