EU is the lifeblood of the UK economy. Leaving would be suicide-by Martin Barker

Leaving EU Suicide for Britain

This week the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) published their quarterly EU Barometer, which showed that businesses strongly want to remain in the EU. Almost two-thirds (61.4%) said they wanted to remain. It's a great shame that the poll still managed to produce some negative headlines, some of which I would wager are politically driven by those who really want Britain to leave the EU or just don't care enough about small- and medium-sized (SME) businesses like mine to report the facts accurately


My company, Rowan Precision Ltd, is in the heart of the industrial West Midlands, and we have been manufacturing precision turned parts for over 25 years, for sectors including aerospace, medical, defence, lighting, automotive, scientific instrumentation, electronics and telecommunications, with15% of our products going to EU customers.

We are part of a regional EU supply chain with Germany, France, Spain and Italy for the global export market, which is typical of the way UK SME manufacturers trade. I like to think firms like mine represent the backbone of the British manufacturing and export economy.

Expansion of the EU single market has opened up a lot more doors for us, providing us with many more opportunities to export. Without the single market, my company simply wouldn't have the same work turnover as we presently do. That's why, when I hear it said that small businesses can't afford Britain to carry on in the EU, I think to myself – hold on, we can't afford not to be in the EU. And I don't have to pay for large teams of lawyers, compliance officers or Brussels-based lobbyists to export well-made products to the EU.

The BCC poll confirms that most businesses (54%) think withdrawal from the EU would be bad for Britain.

Let me go further. It would be a suicidal concept to even contemplate exiting the EU. The opportunity it brings for export and trade is absolutely second to none. Micro, small and medium enterprises are the lifeblood of the UK economy; exporting businesses are the next generation of wealth generators – how will this be achieved if we surrender access to the single market?


Read more: The EU is the lifeblood of the UK economy. Leaving would be suicide | Martin Barker | Comment is free | theguardian.com