Skip to content
Saturday 15 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
NewslettersSearchEN · DE
MorningWire

European business, markets and politics

FTSE 100
10,750.11
-0.21%
DAX
26,440.31
+0.53%
CAC 40
8,636.80
-0.16%
STOXX 50
6,539.59
-0.09%
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Technology
  • Politics
  • Opinion
More
GermanyFranceBankingAIEnergyFintechPropertyCapital Markets
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Technology
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • DE
Wednesday 22 June 2016 6:52 am

Business leaders sign letter backing Britain remaining in the EU

By: Helen Cahill

Add as a preferred source on Google

The bosses of more than half of the UK's biggest companies have called for voters to back Britain staying in the EU in tomorrow's vote.

Directors from 51 FTSE 100 companies have signed a letter to voice their support for the UK remaining in the EU, saying a British exit "would put jobs at risk".

Over 1,280 executives signed the letter to the Times, including Barclays' John McFarlane, who had not yet expressed his views on tomorrow's vote. A total 1.75m people are employed by the companies on the said, according to Remain.

The letter says: "We know our firms are stronger in Europe. Our reasons are straightforward: businesses and their employees benefit massively from being able to trade inside the world's largest single market without barriers.

"We know that Britain leaving the EU would mean having to re-establish terms of trade from scratch with our home market of 500m customers. That wouldn't just hurt exporters, but the hundred of thousands of small and medium firms who do business with them.

"Even those that want Britain to leave say that, in the short-term, Brexit would lead to economic uncertainty and would put jobs at risk. Smaller businesses and the people they employ are particularly vulnerable to any economic shock which could follow a vote to leave the EU."

The letter was co-ordinated by Britain Stronger in Europe's Gabe Winn, who previously ran communications for FTSE 100 company Centrica Energy, parent of British Gas.

Yesterday, Oxford Economics produced a report saying Brexit could create a fallout on the scale of the Lehman Brothers collapse, and Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen warned leaving the EU would have "significant repercussions" for Britain.

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business

Trending Articles

  • Revolut takes flight with launch of new airport lounges

  • Grandparents fund university degrees to avoid inheritance tax net

  • Revolut chatbot goes rogue by charging users to cancel subscription

  • Brompton Bicycle sues former adviser for ‘professional negligence’

  • As It Happened: Stocks dip as oil’s ‘slowing demand’ in focus; Iran threatens to extend war

More from Morning Wire

  • Burnham told to launch £100bn tax reform package

    Politics
    Andy Burnham speaking at a press conference, wearing a suit, addressing key issues in Greater Manchesters development.
  • The Rest Is… for the Treasury: Gary Lineker backs wealth tax for rich

    Sport Business
    Gary Lineker in a suit and tie, smiling with glasses and a goatee, against a blurred background.
  • London Stock Exchange overhaul will ‘damage trust’, top investors warn

    Markets
    London's AIM stock exchange has struggled to attract IPOs in recent years.
  • Britain should back the North Sea if it wants energy security and net zero

    Opinion
    Oil prices have risen as Israel and Iran tensions escalated.
  • Nscale doubles London office space as UK staff grows sixfold

    AI
    2024 was a transformational year for GlobalData.
  • Arm Holdings plc Reports Results for the First Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending 2027

    Business Wire
  • Britain has the lowest level of millionaires since the financial crisis – and that’s no accident

    Opinion
    Experts believe an exit tax could stem to flow of wealthy residents leaving the UK
  • The debate: should voting be compulsory?

    Opinion
    Ipsos Mori is one of the largest polling companies operating in the UK.
MorningWire

Independent European business, markets and political news for decision-makers.

Morning Briefing

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Business

  • Markets
  • Banking
  • Technology
  • Energy
  • Property
  • Fintech

Editorial

  • Opinion
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Company

  • About Morning Wire
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Morning Wire Ltd · Published by Morning Wire Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Privacy · Terms · Cookies · Facebook