Business leaders have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, warning him that any concessions to the European Union would be an economic disaster for the United Kingdom. The letter, organised by the Independent Business Network (IBN), urges Burnham to uphold his manifesto commitments and maintain current red lines, including no return to the Customs Union, the Single Market, or freedom of movement.
Letter warns of 'doppelgänger' future under EU re-entry
The letter, addressed to the Prime Minister, warns of a future where Burnham, having won an election on a Lib-Lab pact, agrees to a series of bad deals with the EU. These deals, the signatories claim, would demand money from UK taxpayers for symbolic arrangements that limit Britain's ability to outgrow and compete with the Eurozone. The letter describes this as a “doppelgänger” future that would spell the end of Britain as an independent nation capable of self-determination.
John Longworth, Chair of the Independent Business Network and former MEP, wrote the accompanying opinion piece. He argues that the EU can only drag Brexit Britain down and that narrow sectoral interests would take priority over those of the nation.
Benefits of Brexit outlined
The letter points out that the UK has already benefited from Brexit. According to the signatories, the Rejoiners' alternative realities have been shown to be seriously flawed, and prior to the current government, Britain was outperforming Germany, France, and the Eurozone on economic growth in the post-Brexit referendum period.
Key benefits cited include: Britain no longer pays membership fees to the EU, which would amount to at least £25 billion per year and increasing; the UK has escaped over 400 new regulations, enabling growth in areas such as biotech and genome-related pharma and agriculture; the UK is the third largest centre for AI in the world, a leader in fintech, and London has forged ahead as a global financial centre; and the UK has created trade arrangements superior to those of the EU, including deals with Japan, Korea, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and India.
Family businesses make up over 85% of UK businesses, but only 8% export to the EU single market. The letter argues that rejoining would oblige all UK businesses to follow EU rules, burdening the 70% that operate domestically and the rest that export globally.
Call to uphold manifesto commitments
The letter acknowledges that constructive relations with Europe are desirable, especially on security and defence, but insists that cooperation must not come at the expense of sovereignty. The signatories call on the government to ensure that any future negotiations with the EU are guided by principles including: no return to the Customs Union, no return to the Single Market, no restoration of freedom of movement, no transfer of legislative or judicial authority to EU institutions, no acceptance of dynamic regulatory alignment without democratic consent, no new financial contributions to the EU budget, and no arrangements that undermine the UK's independent trade policy.
The letter concludes by urging the government to pursue the opportunities of independence with vigour and conviction, and to hold itself accountable for the ambition and delivery that independence demands.
Signatories include prominent business figures
The letter is signed by 39 individuals, including John Longworth, Lance Forman, Lord Henry Bellingham, Lord Moylan, Lord Redwood, Lord Jon Moynihan, Simon Boyd OBE, Ian Herbert, Daniel Hodson, Brendan Chilton, Anthony Murphy, Johnnie Arkwright, Malcolm Penny, Roger Bootle, Julian Jessop, Professor Patrick Minford CBE, Simon Woolcock, Jeremy Hoskins, Lord Peter Cruddas, Jeremy Fenn, Suzanne Evans, Sir Rocco Forte, Brian Monteith, Earl of Inchape, Patrick de Pelet, Tim Martin, Alan Halsall, Brian Kingham CBE, Gregory Shenkman, Nicholas Allen, Professor Robert Tombs, Lord David Frost, Hon. Anne Marie Morris, Catherine McBride, Christopher Mills, Bob Gullett, Nick Guinness, Pam Watts, and Roger White.
