This is Devon --
LEADING business figures this week, including Sir Richard Branson and Martin Sorrell, outlined the overwhelming economic benefits of EU membership in a letter to a national newspaper.
Now that the European Parliament has just given the go-ahead to a comprehensive EU-US trade agreement, worth up to £10 billion a year to the British economy or nearly £400 per household, the economic case is getting even stronger. With the UK taking the lead, there is enough momentum on both sides of the Atlantic to see a speedy conclusion of the trade negotiations.
However, instead of focusing on this ambitious agenda, the Conservative party is once again being torn apart by the issue of Europe. At a time when our biggest priority should be creating jobs and getting our economy back on track, the Tories seem to be more concerned with appeasing the anti-EU wing of their party and countering the threat from UKIP.
UKIP say we are better off negotiating our own trade deals. I say, 'do the numbers'. As a European trade bloc we outnumber the Americans and have more clout to get the best deal for British jobs and British business.
SIR GRAHAM WATSON MEP
Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar Reported by This is 11 hours ago.
LEADING business figures this week, including Sir Richard Branson and Martin Sorrell, outlined the overwhelming economic benefits of EU membership in a letter to a national newspaper.
Now that the European Parliament has just given the go-ahead to a comprehensive EU-US trade agreement, worth up to £10 billion a year to the British economy or nearly £400 per household, the economic case is getting even stronger. With the UK taking the lead, there is enough momentum on both sides of the Atlantic to see a speedy conclusion of the trade negotiations.
However, instead of focusing on this ambitious agenda, the Conservative party is once again being torn apart by the issue of Europe. At a time when our biggest priority should be creating jobs and getting our economy back on track, the Tories seem to be more concerned with appeasing the anti-EU wing of their party and countering the threat from UKIP.
UKIP say we are better off negotiating our own trade deals. I say, 'do the numbers'. As a European trade bloc we outnumber the Americans and have more clout to get the best deal for British jobs and British business.
SIR GRAHAM WATSON MEP
Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar Reported by This is 11 hours ago.
