Welby, Cleese and Dyson – the latest famous faces to take a side on Europe

By:

Add as a preferred source on Google

An Archbishop, a former Python and a top entrepreneur – these are the latest famous faces to align themselves with a side in the EU referendum campaigning over the weekend.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has revealed he will be voting to stay in Europe in the referendum which is now less than two weeks away.

"We each have to make up our own minds. But for my part, based on what I have said and on what I have experienced I shall vote to remain," he said, writing for the Mail on Sunday.

Read more: We asked 12 experts what markets will do the day before the EU referendum

"I hope and pray that the result will be reached with the aim of a good Britain in a good Europe, whether as part of the EU or not. I pray that each person’s vote will be based on generosity, hope, confidence."

Actor and former Monty Python star John Cleese has also tweeted his stance on the matter, and wants to leave the union.

"If I thought there was any chance of major reform in the EU, I'd vote to stay in. But there isn't. Sad. Sorry, Paddy," he said, referring to Lib Dem Lord Ashdown who is campaigning for Remain.

Read more: Farage on Brexit sterling slump: "So what?"

The comedy star called on the EU to ditch the Euro and for the president of the European Commission to be hanged.

Billionaire entrepreneur James Dyson yesterday put his voice behind the calls for Britain to leave the EU, rubbishing claims that leaving would damage trade.

"When the Remain campaign tells us no one will trade with us if we leave the EU, sorry, it’s absolute cobblers," he said, speaking to the Telegraph. "Our trade imbalance with Europe is running at nine billion a month and rising. If this trend continues, that is £100bn a year.

"If, as David Cameron suggested, they imposed a tariff of 10 per cent on us, we will do the same in return. We buy more from Europe than they buy from us, so we would be the net beneficiary and based on these numbers it would bring £10bn into the UK annually. Added to our net EU contribution, it would make us around £18.5bn better off each year if we left the EU."

The trio follow former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and web inventor Tim Berners-Lee who last week threw their hat in with support for Remain. 

Check out Morning Wire's comprehensive interactive of who's who and on which side of the referendum debate.