Rebutting a Looser Relationship with the EU

It is clear from the opinion poll cited by Ruth Lea that 71 per cent of Britons do not wish to leave the EU (Comment, April 29). This is a similar proportion to the number of businesses that continue to back our membership.

Our involvement in the EU has helped to create the most liberal Commission in the EU's history, which seems an odd time for Ruth Lea's campaign group to call for a more detached membership. Anything less than full membership would be economically damaging.

There would be no British MEPs, no British commissioners and the prime minister would not be able to attend European summits. A form of associate membership would lead to the UK having to accept rules from the EU to be part of the single market, without having any voice to shape them. A looser relationship would be a loser relationship.

Roland Rudd (Chairman, Business for New Europe)

Business for New Europe
PO Box 57054
London EC2P 2YS
www.bnegroup.org
Tel: 020 7256 6575