Leave targets EU economy claim

Eurosceptics rubbished research highlighted by the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign suggesting EU membership is worth £133 billion a year to exporting companies in the UK.

An alternative study by the Civitas thinktank claimed the single market has had “no discernible benefit” for UK exports and has proved “not far short of a disaster” for Britain.

It said UK export growth in the single market area was 22.3 per cent lower following the creation of the EU in 1993 than it would have been had it continued at its trend rate during the common market years of 1973 to 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.”

The research on export benefits was an early attempt by the ‘Stronger in’ campaign to shape the battleground for the forthcoming EU referendum.

Campaign chairman Lord Rose argued the debate over Britain’s membership of the EU should not be dominated by concerns over migration.

He also made the case for the referendum to follow quickly after Mr Cameron concludes his renegotiation of Britain’s membership which could happen as soon as next month.

Lord Rose, the former executive chairman at Marks and Spencer, said: “We will be ready for any eventuality. Once we have a deal, whenever that deal might be, let’s assume it is in February, why would you want to wait?

“I think there is enough time to get the information out, to get the facts out, to have a healthy debate. Why would you want to wait?”

Although Mr Cameron has repeatedly insisted that he will “rule nothing out” if he fails to secure a deal, Lord Rose said: “I have heard nothing the Prime Minister has said which suggests he would be voting for an exit.

“I’m confident that he will get a deal and, as far as I’m concerned, although I do not think this is a perfect relationship, the UK and EU have always had a slightly combative relationship, but it is a relationship that benefits both sides.

“The Europeans respect our membership, we get a benefit from being in the EU and I am confident that will continue.”

The Centre for European Reform found Britain’s goods trade with the EU is 55 per cent higher as a result of its membership.

Calling on Eurosceptics to set out their position, Lord Rose said: “Clearly trade is not going to stop if we came out of Europe, that is a fact.

“What we don’t know is how the Europeans will treat us if we say to them on a Friday night ‘look, I’m sorry chaps, we’re out but by the way can we have the same deal on Monday morning which we had last Friday?’

“Clearly the answer would be ‘very unlikely’.

“What we are pushing to get some clarity on at the moment from the No campaign is ‘give us a clue as to what the alternative might look like?’

“Frankly we don’t know, there is nothing we can recommend at the moment to the electorate which says ‘actually the deal you are going to get is better’.

“The uncertainty factor is a very big factor.”

Speculation is growing that Mr Cameron will call the referendum for a date in June following next month’s EU summit.