Retail heavy weights, from Dixons Carphone CEO James Seb to the Boss of Kingfisher Veronique Leary, have penned their names in a letter from business leaders against Brexit.
The letter, addressed to The Times, also includes signatures from:
ӢAndy Clark, Chief Executive, Asda
ӢJacqueline Gold CBE, Founder and Chief Executive, Ann Summers
ӢChristopher Bailey MBE, Chief Executive, Burberry Group
ӢMarc Bolland, Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer
ӢNeil Clifford, Chief Executive, Kurt Geiger
ӢSir John Peace, Chairman, Burberry Group
ӢStefano Pessina, Chief Executive, Walgreens Boots Alliance
ӢTim Steiner, Founder and Chief Executive, Ocado
The signatories have joined the campaign to remain in the EU after Prime Minister David Cameron secured a commitment from the Union to “reduce the burden of regulation, deepen the single market and to sign-off crucial international trade deals,” reported The Times.
In the letter, those bosses hail pledges to cut red tape, deepen the single market and sign off new trade deals in the agreement finalised after last week‘s Brussels summit.
“Business needs unrestricted access to the European market of 500m people in order to continue to grow, invest and create jobs,” read the letter. “We believe that leaving the EU would deter investment and threaten jobs. It would put the economy at risk.”
Moody‘s threatened to downgrade the country‘s credit rating as bookmakers slashed the odds on Brexit and on the London mayor‘s prospects of making it to No 10.
Meanwhile three of Britain’s biggest supermarkets Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, refused to sign the letter.
“The referendum on EU membership is a decision for the people of Britain,” said Tesco in a statement. “Whatever that decision is, our focus will continue to be on serving customers.”
A spokeswoman for Sainsbury‘s said it was an “apolitical organisation” and the vote on Europe was a “matter for the British people”.
