JCB company owner and chief executive both back British exit from the EU

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32775396
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...ring-firm.html

EU exit may be in UK's best interest, says top manufacturing firm

'There has been too much scaremongering' over Europe, says the top executive of leading British manufacturing firm JCB

Graeme MacDonald, chief executive of JCB

The bosses of one of the biggest manufacturing companies in the UK have said Britain should vote to leave the European Union in an in-out referendum because the departure would not make a "blind bit of difference" to trade with Europe.

Graeme MacDonald, chief executive of JCB - the third biggest maker of construction equipment in the world - said the impact on business had been overhyped if Britain voted to leave the single market.

Asked if it would be better for the UK to quit an unreformed EU, he told The Guardian: "I think it would be because I really don’t think it would make a blind bit of difference to trade with Europe.

"There has been far too much scaremongering about things like jobs. I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest to stop trade. I don’t think we or Brussels will put up trade barriers.”

At the same time, the company's chairman and owner Lord Bamford, who is a Tory peer and donor, told the BBC that the UK “could negotiate as our own country rather than being one of 28 nations in Brussels as we are today.” He added "We are the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world. We could exist on our own - peacefully and sensibly," Lord Bamford told BBC Midlands Today.

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold an in-out referendum by 2017, but could bring it forward, after first seeking to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership. He wants a better deal for the country, with controls on immigration and an end to meddling from Brussels, which Mr MacDonald said was key.

"What is needed is a lot less red tape and bureaucracy," he said. "Some of it is costly for us and quite frankly ridiculous. Whether that means renegotiating or exiting, I don’t think it can carry on as it is. It’s a burden on our business and it’s easier selling to North America than to Europe sometimes.”

Many other British businesses are also believed to be keen for renegotiation of the EU. An Institute of Directors' survey last year found that 60 per cent of business leaders would only continue to support the EU if there was reform in a number of areas. However, there are other voices such as WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell who have said leaving the EU could be costly for Britain.

Well done to both for coming out and stating the obvious.

If people like the JCB Owner and Chief Executive get behind and properly back an Exit campaign, then I am really hopeful that the scaremongering from the politicians about leaving can be overcome. We can just as easily trade with the EU with leaving, and we'll not have to put up with all the rest of it (open borders, Euro bailouts, social policies and political interference) once we do. A better relationship for both sides so let's seize upon it.

Thoughts?

[AgnesIO]

But then who would listen to JCB when there are companies such as BMW, Ford and Unilever warning against us leaving? Whether one considers it scaremongering or not, there are far more companies advocating that we stay in the EU than those which say we should leave.

[-:Undertaker:-]

But then who would listen to JCB

Erm it is one of our biggest companies?

when there are companies such as BMW, Ford and Unilever warning against us leaving? Whether one considers it scaremongering or not, there are far more companies advocating that we stay in the EU than those which say we should leave.

That isn't true.

There's more larger corporations like you mention that keep telling us to stay for one reason and one reason alone: it's easier for them to lobby politicians of one parliament to pass legislation than 28 different parliaments. There's no concrete evidence any of the supporters of staying in that can point to us having any disadvantages what so ever by leaving, the bigger boys only want to stay in because they'd lose their influential lobbying positions. It's as simple as that.

I'd also remind you that the same large corporations also told us back in 2000 if we didn't join the Euro they'd all leave. Thank **** we ignored them.

Rudd, Branson (Virgin), Nissan, and Sorrell... the usual suspects.

[AgnesIO]

Erm it is one of our biggest companies?



That isn't true.

There's more larger corporations like you mention that keep telling us to stay for one reason and one reason alone: it's easier for them to lobby politicians of one parliament to pass legislation than 28 different parliaments. There's no concrete evidence any of the supporters of staying in that can point to us having any disadvantages what so ever by leaving, the bigger boys only want to stay in because they'd lose their influential lobbying positions. It's as simple as that.

I'd also remind you that the same large corporations also told us back in 2000 if we didn't join the Euro they'd all leave. Thank **** we ignored them.

Rudd, Branson (Virgin), Nissan, and Sorrell... the usual suspects.

Splitting up my post to suit your argument is stupid. I am questioning who would listen to JCB when there are far larger companies saying we should stay. I'm not questioning what large corporations motives are - I am simply stating there are far more telling us to stay inside. Which is true. Thanks.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Splitting up my post to suit your argument is stupid. I am questioning who would listen to JCB when there are far larger companies saying we should stay. I'm not questioning what large corporations motives are - I am simply stating there are far more telling us to stay inside. Which is true. Thanks.

It depends entirely which companies you include and do not. I think the third biggest construction equipment company in the world holds some sway though.

As I said and the video shows, many of the large corporations are completely discredited when it comes to advice on the EU.

[AgnesIO]

It depends entirely which companies you include and do not. I think the third biggest construction equipment company in the world holds some sway though.

As I said and the video shows, many of the large corporations are completely discredited when it comes to advice on the EU.

I guess the third largest consumer goods company with over 400 brands would probably have a pretty loud voice too, though, right?

I bet the majority of voters will be watching anti-EU videos on YouTube too, then!

[The Don]

But then who would listen to JCB when there are companies such as BMW, Ford and Unilever warning against us leaving? Whether one considers it scaremongering or not, there are far more companies advocating that we stay in the EU than those which say we should leave.

Why listen to the overwhelming majority when there's a few idiots around that reinforce Dan's firmly established beliefs? You could tell Dan the sky is blue and he would find some nutter that disagrees with you and point out why everybody else is wrong.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I guess the third largest consumer goods company with over 400 brands would probably have a pretty loud voice too, though, right?

I bet the majority of voters will be watching anti-EU videos on YouTube too, then!

It does have a big voice, absolutely. But when Nissan, Toyota and Virgin told us to join the Euro or face economic disaster, and given none of that ever materalised and rather the opposite happened like my side warned (including Business for Sterling) don't you think that is important too?

Believe it or not, there's loads of companies like JCB out there who back British exit. It's time they were heard over the discredited ones.

Why listen to the overwhelming majority when there's a few idiots around that reinforce Dan's firmly established beliefs? You could tell Dan the sky is blue and he would find some nutter that disagrees with you and point out why everybody else is wrong.

Sounds like a perfect description of yourself.

Interesting though, when the referendum comes and say business sides with us so you lose that extra bone... what will you argue for that? What concrete evidence will you have to give or will you just resort, like you always have, to scaremongering about jobs without any factual basis at all?

[The Don]

Sounds like a perfect description of yourself.

Interesting though, when the referendum comes and say business sides with us so you lose that extra bone... what will you argue for that? What concrete evidence will you have to give or will you just resort, like you always have, to scaremongering about jobs without any factual basis at all?

"I know you are but what am I" lmao

I won't need to argue anything, there's still an overwhelming majority of businesses that all agree it would be bad for us to leave.

[-:Undertaker:-]

"I know you are but what am I" lmao

Aye, often we project ourselves onto other people.

I won't need to argue anything, there's still an overwhelming majority of businesses that all agree it would be bad for us to leave.

Because you cannot argue, I guess you'll just have to keep on parroting the discredited claims of Nissan and Toyota then.