UK Business Leaders: ’Brexit’ Would ’Threaten Jobs’

Local Editor

Warning that the possibility of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, commonly known as "Brexit", would threaten jobs, the bosses of more than a third of British top companies on Tuesday urged voters to keep the country in the EU.

Some 198 business leaders including Roger Carr, chairman of BAE Systems, BP CEO Bob Dudley and Ron Dennis, chief of F1 team McLaren, wrote a joint letter published in the Times, backing Prime Minister David Cameron's deal to reform the EU.

"Following the prime minister's renegotiation, we believe that Britain is better off staying in a reformed European Union," they wrote, adding Cameron had secured important commitments to improve competitiveness within the bloc.

In addition, the business chiefs who between them employ around 1.2 million people wrote: "We believe that leaving the EU would deter investment, threaten jobs and put the economy at risk."

"Britain will be stronger, safer and better off remaining a member of the EU," their statement concluded.

Relatively, chairmen or chief executives of 36 companies from key share index FTSE 100, including national giants such as Asda, BT, Marks & Spencer and Vodafone, all signed the letter.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team