This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34492725
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Lord Stuart Rose to lead campaign to keep UK in EU | Lord Stuart Rose to lead campaign to keep UK in EU |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Lord Stuart Rose, former chief executive of Marks and Spencer, is to lead the campaign for Britain to stay in the European Union. | Lord Stuart Rose, former chief executive of Marks and Spencer, is to lead the campaign for Britain to stay in the European Union. |
| The Conservative peer, now chairman of the In Campaign, said the UK was "stronger in Europe" and to leave the EU would be a "leap into the unknown". | The Conservative peer, now chairman of the In Campaign, said the UK was "stronger in Europe" and to leave the EU would be a "leap into the unknown". |
| Earlier, Conservative, Labour and UKIP MPs launched a cross-party campaign to take the UK out of the EU. | |
| David Cameron has promised a referendum on the issue by the end of 2017. | David Cameron has promised a referendum on the issue by the end of 2017. |
| He was due to discuss his planned EU reforms with German Chancellor Angela Merkel when he hosted her for dinner at Chequers on Friday. | |
| Recruitment 'a coup' | |
| The In Campaign, which officially launches its campaign on Monday, said Lord Rose would take up the position with immediate effect. | The In Campaign, which officially launches its campaign on Monday, said Lord Rose would take up the position with immediate effect. |
| Lord Rose, who was chief executive of Marks and Spencer from 2004 to 2011 and is now chairman of online supermarket Ocado, said: "Most people, myself included, will make a hard-headed, practical calculation in the coming referendum on what is best for the British people. | |
| "I believe that Britain is stronger in Europe. The choice in the coming referendum is between remaining stronger, safer and better off inside Europe, or taking a leap into the unknown, risking our prosperity, threatening our safety, and diminishing our influence in the world." | |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said: "The In Campaign regard the recruitment of Lord Rose as their chair as a coup, not just because he's a Conservative making the case for staying in the EU, but a businessman associated with some of the country's most well known retail brands - including Marks and Spencer, Argos and Ocado." | |
| Will Straw, executive director of the In Campaign, said Lord Rose brought "unparalleled experience of business and enterprise" to the campaign, adding: "He knows the value that Britain's membership of the EU brings to businesses right across the UK, and what would be at risk if we left." | |
| Vote Leave, made up of Conservative, Labour and UKIP MPs and donors, launched its campaign on Friday. | |
| Supporters of Vote Leave, which says it wants to negotiate a new deal based on free trade and friendly co-operation, include Labour's Kate Hoey and UKIP's Douglas Carswell. | |
| It is competing with rival group, the UKIP-backed Leave.EU, to be the official Out campaign in the referendum. | |
| The Electoral Commission has yet to designate the official campaigns on either side of the EU debate. | |
| The chosen groups will benefit from increased spending limits of £7m during the campaign period, campaign broadcasts and a free mailout to households. | |
| They all get access to public meeting rooms and to the electoral register, and are entitled to public grants of up to £600,000. |