SME bosses back new Eurosceptic campaign

MORE than 70 business owners, including prominent entrepreneurs and landlords, have launched a new Eurosceptic campaign group.
 
Among those backing Business for Britain, North West include Lord Derby, owner of Knowsley Safari Park,  Scott Fletcher MBE, founder of IT services company ANS Group, Lord Daresbury of Daresbury Properties, David Mond of the ClearDebt Group and Michael Fort of biotech firm Concept Life Sciences.

The group also unveiled research which claims many small business owners feel that EU membership is making it harder for them to create jobs and that EU regulation is holding back their businesses.

It says it wants to see “fundamental change” in the UK’s relationship with the EU and believes that politicians have given away too much control over our economy to Brussels.

The North West regional council, which is headed by chairman John Kersey, managing director of Kersey Hairdressing and former chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Lancashire, will  provide a platform for North West businesses to engage in the debate in the EU referendum. Business for Britain is backing the Vote Leave campaign.

New research by YouGov of 2,100 SMEs, of which 180 were based in the North West found that: 30% of smaller businesses surveyed from the region think that the EU is making it harder for their business to employ people, compared to just 13% that think it makes it easier;  28% of smaller businesses think that EU regulation hinders them, while 24% feel it provides help;  54% of smaller businesses surveyed in the North West believe that the UK can trade and cooperate with the EU without giving away permanent control over our economy, compared to just 30% that think the single market is good for jobs and living standards.

In addition, 57% of smaller businesses surveyed from the North West want the UK to control negotiating trade deals, rather than the EU (30%).

Business for Britain, North West regional chairman John Kersey said: “EU rules are making it more difficult for us to expand and take on new staff. We’ve given away too much control over our economy to politicians in Brussels. I want to see powers come back so that we can make rules that are better suited to the needs of businesses in the North West.

“I believe that businesses in the region could thrive outside the European Union. It is the safer choice to vote to leave.”

The polling by YouGov took place online in late 2015.

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