City business leader says Britain leaving the EU is ‘a nonsense’

Tony Mernagh, Executive Director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership and Managing Director of Brighton and Hove Business Forum, has issued an unequivocal statement in favour of Britain’s membership of the European Union.

In a statement to Tracey Hill, a Labour MEP candidate for the south east based in Brighton and Hove, he said: “When some of the world’s largest companies tell you that they have invested in the UK because it is part of Europe and they will seriously review their presence here if that changes, we need to sit up and listen. At a time when global connections determine which countries will thrive and which will struggle, it is a nonsense to contemplate Britain abandoning its membership of the world’s largest single market with half a billion potential customers.

“The UK is in danger of sleepwalking out of one of the most powerful trading blocks on the planet because people don’t understand EU regulations, half of which are just urban myth peddled by Red Tops rather than reality.

“Europe provides both jobs and hard cash for our economy. If we aren’t part of the EU, we will still have to abide by EU rules and regulations if we want to sell our goods and services to them but we will have no place around the table influencing the terms and conditions of that trade. London is unlikely to continue to be Europe’s global centre for finance and business services if it is outside the EU. Britain’s position on the world stage will be hugely diminished if we are a country isolated outside the European block.

“We will gain nothing by leaving the EU, we will lose much. And once lost, it will never be regained.”

Tracey Hill added: “At this time when personality and media exposure seems to be leading the debate, it’s really important for business leaders to speak out and give a clear reasoned argument for why Britain should remain in the EU. Over twelve thousand jobs in Brighton and Hove depend on Britain’s membership of the EU. Much of the protection for workers such as health and safety, guaranteed holiday and maternity leave are in place because of the EU. Without a doubt, Brighton and Hove, and many people who live here, would be worse off if Britain left the EU.”