European Union chief: Brexit would change bloc for the worse

Chairmen or chief executives of 36 FTSE 100 companies, including Asda, BT, Marks & Spencer, Kingfisher and Vodafone, said in a letter that “Brexit” would “deter investment and threaten jobs”.

The FTSE bosses were among 198 business bosses who signed the letter.

Some bosses, particularly consumer-facing businesses, chose not to sign the letter.

But Cameron’s Conservative Party is deeply split on the issue, with as many as half its 330 legislators – and at least six of the 23 Cabinet ministers – in favour of leaving the EU.

“We are a great country and whatever choice we make, we will still be great”, Mr Cameron said.

Mr Johnson informed the PM by text just nine minutes before making his statement.

Only a handful of smaller companies said they were reconsidering investment decisions. “But on this issue I think he has got it wrong and I think he has reached the wrong conclusion”, Cameron said.

“I’m saying this because I feel this so strongly”.

The letter pointed out that the singatories ran businesses that employed thousands of people across the United Kingdom and they represented every sector of the economy.

“A Brexit would be bad for sterling, but it would also be bad for the euro”, said Mizuho’s head of hedge fund sales in London, Neil Jones.

A vote to leave would not only transform Britain’s future in world affairs but also shake the European Union, which has struggled to maintain unity over migration and financial crises, by ripping away its second-largest economy.

Other commentators said the potential boost for Cameron was limited given that two-thirds of top bosses had not signed up, including those from its two biggest retailers. “We therefore believe strongly that it is in our national interest to remain an European Union member”.

In this screen grab taken from video, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron addresses Members of Parliament, in the House of Commons in London, Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, to lay out his case for staying in the European Union.

Cameron said yesterday that he would immediately invoke article 50 if Britain voted to leave, but it is highly doubtful he would himself survive such a vote.

Other big British businesses have made a decision to remain neutral, including retail chain Tesco.

“Brexit will reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and cost on business, which can be used to invest in more jobs, not less”. He is a fantastic mayor of London.

“The EU treaties will only change by 1 per cent if it ever comes into force – there is very little reform on the table”.