Business leaders join 
campaign to win a 
better deal in Europe

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 Tories are returned to power.

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”.

Ocado chairman Sir Stuart Rose and Next boss Lord Wolfson are among the 500 people associated with businesses who have signed up to the campaign.

The group’s co-chairman Alan Halsall, boss of Yorkshire-based 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.”