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UK car industry and more leading businessmen back Remain Top bosses rush to back Remain ahead of EU vote
(35 minutes later)
The UK's car industry, more leading businessmen, and the chairman of football's Premier League have backed the campaign to stay in the EU. Top bosses from Sir Richard Branson to the chair of the football's Premier League have backed the campaign to stay in the EU ahead of Thursday's vote.
The car industry's trade body and company executives warned that leaving would increase costs and threaten jobs. Premier League chair Richard Scudamore said the 20 clubs in the top tier wanted to remain and that leaving would be "incongruous" in the context of the league's commitment to "openness".
Premier League chair Richard Scudamore also backed Remain and said the 20 clubs in the top tier wanted to remain. Meanwhile, Sir Richard warned a British exit from the EU would be "devastating" for the UK's long-term prosperity.
Vote Leave rejected the idea that leaving would hurt the car industry, instead saying it could help exports. Vote Leave rejected the comments.
The group also dismissed Sir Richard Branson, and drinks giant Diageo boss Ivan Menezes proclamations of support for Remain, claiming they have already voiced pro-EU support and the latest comments were no surprise. It argued a British exit from the European Union would boost industry.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes said a vote to leave the EU would "jeopardise" the industry's continued success. But Mr Scudamore told BBC 5 live that leaving would be "incongruous" in the context of the league's commitment to "openness".
"Remaining will allow the UK to retain the influence on which the unique and successful UK automotive sector depends," he said. "There is an openness about the Premier League which I think it would be completely incongruous if we were to take the opposite position," he said.
'Wrong then, wrong now' Sir Richard Branson, who has long backed the Remain campaign, wrote an open letter, recalling "how difficult it was" for businesses to operate effectively before the EU, adding he was "saddened" at the prospect of returning to those days.
Support for a Remain vote in Thursday's referendum also came from senior automotive executives of an industry which the SMMT said supports 800,000 jobs and contributes £15.5bn annually to the UK economy. "Although I've been living in the British Virgin Islands for some time now, I have never stopped caring passionately about the UK and its great people. I am one of the few business people who can remember how difficult it was before the EU was formed," the Virgin Group boss wrote.
Directors at Toyota UK, Vauxhall, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW, as well as from component makers GKN and Magal Engineering, voiced their support. Meanwhile, drinks giant Diageo's chief executive Ivan Menezes wrote to the company's 4,773 UK employees, telling them that it would be "better for the UK, better for Diageo and better for the Scotch whisky industry that we remain in".
Rory Harvey, chairman of Vauxhall, said: "We are part of a fully integrated European company where we benefit from the free movement of goods and people. We believe not to be part of the EU would be undesirable for our business and the sector as a whole."
Vote Leave issued a detailed rebuttal of the industry's claims, citing several comments by car executives who said Brexit would not harm jobs and investments.
The group's chief executive, Matthew Elliott, said: "We know that British car exports are increasingly going to the rest of the world, not the EU. As such, a vote to leave could provide a boost to the industry as we would be free to sign free trade agreements with emerging markets - something we are currently forbidden from doing by the EU."
He also pointed out that many car company executives had urged Britain to join the euro. "They were wrong then and they are wrong now," he said.
Meanwhile, Diageo's chief executive has written to the company's 4,773 UK employees, telling them that it would be "better for the UK, better for Diageo and better for the Scotch whisky industry that we remain in".
Mr Menezes said Diageo benefitted from ease of access to the European single market, as well as trade deals that the EU has negotiated with the rest of the world.Mr Menezes said Diageo benefitted from ease of access to the European single market, as well as trade deals that the EU has negotiated with the rest of the world.
'Saddened''Saddened'
"The EU has so far concluded, or is negotiating, over 50 of these global agreements, many of which provide significant commercial benefits for Diageo," Mr Menezes said in his letter. Negotiating new deals after a Brexit could take years, he said."The EU has so far concluded, or is negotiating, over 50 of these global agreements, many of which provide significant commercial benefits for Diageo," Mr Menezes said in his letter. Negotiating new deals after a Brexit could take years, he said.
Sir Richard Branson also voiced support for Remain on Monday in an open letter in which the Virgin Group boss said Brexit would be "devastating" for the long-term prosperity of the UK. Support for a Remain vote in Thursday's referendum also came from car industry trade body The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT), which warned leaving would increase costs and threaten jobs.
He recalled "how difficult it was" for businesses to operate effectively before the EU, adding he was "saddened" at the prospect of returning to those days. "Remaining will allow the UK to retain the influence on which the unique and successful UK automotive sector depends," said chief executive Mike Hawkes.
He wrote: "Although I've been living in the British Virgin Islands for some time now, I have never stopped caring passionately about the UK and its great people. I am one of the few business people who can remember how difficult it was before the EU was formed." Directors at Toyota UK, Vauxhall, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW, as well as from component makers GKN and Magal Engineering, also voiced their support.
Vote Leave dismissed the comments from Sir Richard and Mr Menezes as "no surprise" and "not new". A spokesman said: "These are people who support Remain saying again that they support Remain." Rory Harvey, chairman of Vauxhall, said: "We are part of a fully integrated European company where we benefit from the free movement of goods and people. We believe not to be part of the EU would be undesirable for our business and the sector as a whole."
Meanwhile, Richard Scudamore, executive chairman of the Premier League, pledged his support to remain in the EU. The Leave camp fought back against the Remain camp claims.
Grassroots sport On the Premier League, Vote Leave argued Britain's exit from the EU could shore up more funds to be invested in grassroots sports.
He told BBC 5 live that leaving would be "incongruous" in the context of the league's commitment to "openness". "EU rules hurt both our ability to develop home grown talent and restrict access to the global talent pool.
"There is an openness about the Premier League which I think it would be completely incongruous if we were to take the opposite position," he said. "That's the worst of both worlds for football fans and the teams they support," said Vote Leave's Robert Oxley.
But the Leave camp have criticised Mr Scudamore's assessment, saying Brexit could shore up more funds to be invested in grassroots sports. The group also dismissed Sir Richard Branson, and drinks giant Diageo boss Mr Menezes proclamations of support for Remain, claiming they had already voiced pro-EU support and the latest comments were no surprise.
Vote Leave's Robert Oxley said: "EU rules hurt both our ability to develop home grown talent and restrict access to the global talent pool. Vote Leave group's chief executive, Matthew Elliott also rejected the idea that leaving would hurt the car industry, instead saying it could help exports.
"That's the worst of both worlds for football fans and the teams they support." 'Wrong then, wrong now'
"We know that British car exports are increasingly going to the rest of the world, not the EU. As such, a vote to leave could provide a boost to the industry as we would be free to sign free trade agreements with emerging markets - something we are currently forbidden from doing by the EU."
He also pointed out that many car company executives had urged Britain to join the euro. "They were wrong then and they are wrong now," Mr Elliott added.
UndecidedUndecided
As Thursday's Referendum approaches, executives have recently stepped up support for the Leave and Remain camps.As Thursday's Referendum approaches, executives have recently stepped up support for the Leave and Remain camps.
On Sunday, the chief executive of energy giant EDF Energy, Vincent de Rivaz, wrote to his UK staff outlining what he says are the benefits of continued EU membership.On Sunday, the chief executive of energy giant EDF Energy, Vincent de Rivaz, wrote to his UK staff outlining what he says are the benefits of continued EU membership.
Earlier this month Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, one of Britain's most successful manufacturers, wrote to his company's 6,500 employees in the UK to explain why he favours a vote to leave the European Union.Earlier this month Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, one of Britain's most successful manufacturers, wrote to his company's 6,500 employees in the UK to explain why he favours a vote to leave the European Union.
Last weekend, entrepreneur Sir James Dyson told the Daily Telegraph Britain would gain more from leaving the EU than it would lose.Last weekend, entrepreneur Sir James Dyson told the Daily Telegraph Britain would gain more from leaving the EU than it would lose.
Last week, BT bosses and union leaders came out in favour of the Remain camp.Last week, BT bosses and union leaders came out in favour of the Remain camp.
Big business and financial firms have generally been in favour of staying in the EU, although surveys suggest that small businesses are more evenly split.Big business and financial firms have generally been in favour of staying in the EU, although surveys suggest that small businesses are more evenly split.
Last week, a poll by the Federation of Small Businesses suggested that 42% of members "could still be swayed on how to vote" with 52% "saying they didn't feel they had the information they needed".Last week, a poll by the Federation of Small Businesses suggested that 42% of members "could still be swayed on how to vote" with 52% "saying they didn't feel they had the information they needed".