Marketing Stockport members have been told there is ‘no business case for leaving’ leaving the EU.
Dr John Ashcroft, CEO of pro-manchester and author of The Saturday Economist, made the comments during a round-table debate of Marketing Stockport’s founding members at Beechwood Cancer Care Centre.
Britain will go to the polls on June 23 to decided whether to stay in the European Union – or leave, otherwise know as ‘Brexit’.
Dr Ashcroft said: “How important is the EU to the UK – and vice-versa?
“We are walking into a world of the unknown and there is a huge agenda but there is no business case for leaving, especially when we don’t know what the alternative is.
“At the moment pollsters suggest the vote will be to remain in the European Union albeit by a slim majority.”
Dr Ashcroft set out the issues in the debate including business, economic, political and social factors, as well the part immigration would play in the outcome.
He also talked about the possible impact on trade with different parts of the world and the practicalities of leaving the EU.
Export of goods and services from the UK to to the EU was worth £220bn in 2015, with almost £290bn coming the other way.
With the UK, the EU is the biggest economy in the world; without it comes in at number three with the USA sandwiched in between.
Jonathan Whittaker, senior partner at SAS Daniels, said the debate was a ‘stimulating and informative session’.
Jonathan said: “The overwhelming message was that the degree of uncertainty and risk associated with leaving is completely unjustified.
“John did a great job of explaining the extent of those issues without political affiliation.
“He also got over the message that you can make the political argument say whatever you want it to say but you cannot avoid the risk to business and to jobs.
“The “Out” campaign just cannot tell anyone what the picture will be or how long it will take for that picture to emerge. That is the honest picture people need to be aware of.”
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Graham Saul, MD of Cloud 9 Hosts, said after the event: “It was a very interesting and informative debate, and good to get all the facts from an eminent economist.
“I would rather stay in knowing all the facts than come out not knowing what is going to happen.”
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Helen White, founder of Marketing Stockport, thanked Dr Ashcroft and the guests for taking part in the debate.
She said: “Today was a great opportunity for some of our business owners and decision-makers to hear the facts associated with leaving or staying in Europe.
“Politicians put a spin on arguments based upon their own opinions so it isn’t always easy to decipher the consequences either way.
“John, one of the UK’s leading economists, examined the core areas where a Brexit vote is most likely to impact.
“Not all of these can deliver assured outcomes, but from a non-political, business owners perspective, we all feel more confident to be able to make a better informed decision in the referendum.”
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