250 Business Leaders Back Brexit

The Vote Leave campaign group has published a list of 250 business leaders who it says support Britain leaving the EU. The list includes former HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan, the founder of Phones 4u John Caudwell and the hotelier Sir Rocco Forte.

But Britain Stronger in Europe said Vote Leave could not find a business to officially back it, as those listed supported it in a “personal capacity”. A referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU will be held on 23 June.

Campaign Business Council

Last month, bosses of 36 of the largest listed companies in Britain signed a letter urging voters to remain in the EU. Vote Leave also announced that its business council would be chaired by John Longworth, who resigned his role as director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) earlier this month.

The council, made up of business leaders, will talk to businesses around the country to make their argument for an EU exit (Vote Leave Business Council), arguing that EU membership is holding back British business.

Analysis

By Joe Lynam, BBC business correspondent

The pro-Brexit camp has striven to counter the impression that most big companies prefer to remain in the EU. A third of FTSE 100 bosses publicly supported staying in last month.

This business council, under the auspices of Vote Leave, brings together entrepreneurs and former company leaders who want Britain to quit the EU. There are some colourful names on the list, including Michael Geoghegan, Tim Martin from JD Wetherspoon and John Caudwell. Only 13 out of the 250 signatories are women, including Olga Forte and Alex Polizzi.

Key Quotes

John Longworth said: “If we Vote Leave, liberated from the shackles of EU membership, jobs will be safer, Britain will be able to spend our money on our priorities and we can look forward to faster growth and greater prosperity in the future.”

Matthew Elliott, Vote Leave’s chief executive, said it had a “growing list of business supporters”.

Sajid Javid, Business Secretary supporting Britain Stronger in Europe, said businesses could see “we are stronger, safer and better-off in a reformed EU”.

Sir Michael Rake, chairman of BT, said many of the Leave campaign’s options—Norway, Switzerland, Canada—were “not realistic” because they would require “the same free movement of labour, the same migration policies and pay into the budget as we currently do—without any influence.”

Selected Business Leaders in Support

• Emma Pullen, MD of the British Hovercraft Company
• John Hoerner, former chief executive officer, Tesco Clothing UK and Central Europe
• Luke Johnson, chairman of Patisserie Valerie
• Jon Moulton, founder of Better Capital LLP
• Rupert Hambro, director of Theo Fennell Plc
• Pasha Khandaker, president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association
• Damon de Laszlo, chairman of Harwin Plc
• John Sclater, former president of Equitable Life

Further Reading

Explore our related coverage: EU referendum: Business Impact and Business Leaders Unite in EU Debate.