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/business-35394839
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU referendum: Sides clash on European market benefits to UK | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Full access to Europe's single market is vital for UK businesses and jobs, a group campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU has said. | |
| The chair of Britain Stronger In Europe, Stuart Rose, said leaving that market would be a "huge risk". | |
| However, "out" campaigners are expected to claim support from new research by the independent think tank Civitas. | However, "out" campaigners are expected to claim support from new research by the independent think tank Civitas. |
| It says membership of the single market has not had a significant impact on export growth. | It says membership of the single market has not had a significant impact on export growth. |
| The prime minister, who wants the UK to stay within a reformed European Union, is pushing to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership ahead of an in/out referendum, which must be held by the end of 2017. | The prime minister, who wants the UK to stay within a reformed European Union, is pushing to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership ahead of an in/out referendum, which must be held by the end of 2017. |
| If agreement with other EU leaders is reached next month, a vote could potentially be held as early as June. | If agreement with other EU leaders is reached next month, a vote could potentially be held as early as June. |
| 'Fantasy' thinking | 'Fantasy' thinking |
| Lord Rose told the BBC that campaigns to leave the EU had not explained how the benefits of the EU single market would be replaced. | |
| If Britain votes to leave, "it's a huge risk, we're taking a huge risk," he said on the Today Programme. | |
| Around 50% of UK exports are to Europe whereas BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - account for 8%, he said. | |
| Lord Rose will present his campaign's case at 09:30 (GMT) at the plant of Britain's biggest bike manufacturer, Brompton Bicycle, in west London. | |
| He will say: "Those who want Britain to leave Europe cannot guarantee that Britain will retain full access to Europe's single market. They are putting the benefits at risk. Their proposed deal, whereby Britain would somehow retain access to the single market without obeying any of the rules, is a fantasy." | |
| Britain Stronger in Europe said one piece of research showed UK goods trade with the EU was 55% higher because of EU membership. | |
| The research, from the Centre for European Reform, suggested the effect of EU membership in 2014 was worth £133bn to 200,000 British firms that import and export. | The research, from the Centre for European Reform, suggested the effect of EU membership in 2014 was worth £133bn to 200,000 British firms that import and export. |
| Export 'disappointment' | Export 'disappointment' |
| However, Vote Leave used research from Civitas to support its case. | However, Vote Leave used research from Civitas to support its case. |
| Civitas studied official trade statistics and said that Britain had recorded slower export growth than any of the other founding nations of Europe's single market. | Civitas studied official trade statistics and said that Britain had recorded slower export growth than any of the other founding nations of Europe's single market. |
| Michael Burrage, who wrote the report, said: "While the single market cannot be counted a success in export terms for the EU as a whole, for the UK it must be counted at the very least a massive disappointment, and not far short of a disaster." | Michael Burrage, who wrote the report, said: "While the single market cannot be counted a success in export terms for the EU as a whole, for the UK it must be counted at the very least a massive disappointment, and not far short of a disaster." |
| His report found growth in UK exports had tended to drop after European Commission trade deals, whereas independent countries Switzerland, Singapore and South Korea grew exports in the majority of cases after they negotiated their own trade agreements. | His report found growth in UK exports had tended to drop after European Commission trade deals, whereas independent countries Switzerland, Singapore and South Korea grew exports in the majority of cases after they negotiated their own trade agreements. |
| He added that UK export growth was 22.3% lower since joining the single market at the end of 1992 than it would have been had it continued at its rate during the common market in 1973-1992. | He added that UK export growth was 22.3% lower since joining the single market at the end of 1992 than it would have been had it continued at its rate during the common market in 1973-1992. |
| Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "The unquestioning mantra that the single market has been good for British trade is wrong and should be challenged as this research makes crystal clear." | Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "The unquestioning mantra that the single market has been good for British trade is wrong and should be challenged as this research makes crystal clear." |
| Other opponents to EU membership also argue that the UK's trade position with the EU would not change much in the event of a vote to leave. | Other opponents to EU membership also argue that the UK's trade position with the EU would not change much in the event of a vote to leave. |
| The Leave.eu organisation said "given that we buy more from the EU than it buys from us" the EU would be unlikely to change Britain's trade terms. | The Leave.eu organisation said "given that we buy more from the EU than it buys from us" the EU would be unlikely to change Britain's trade terms. |
| Business leaders | |
| Meanwhile, pharmaceutical executives warned that a British exit from the EU could isolate the country's scientists and reduce its influence in medicine. | |
| John Lechleiter, chief executive of the US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, told the Financial Times it would be a "shame and a mistake" if the UK left the EU, adding a vote to leave would "isolate the UK, to its detriment". | |
| The boss of Unilever, Paul Polman, said the consumer goods giant would not scale back its 7,500 UK jobs in the case of an "out" vote, but he did feel the UK had "got a lot of benefit from the union". | |
| Mr Polman told the Guardian it would be "very good" if Britain voted to stay in the EU. | |
| David Cameron last week urged business leaders who want Britain to remain in a reformed EU not to "hold back". | |
| David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation | David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation |
| Referendum timeline: What will happen when? | Referendum timeline: What will happen when? |
| Guide: All you need to know about the referendum | Guide: All you need to know about the referendum |
| Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe? | Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe? |
| More: BBC News EU referendum special | More: BBC News EU referendum special |