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Company bosses warn of EU exit

Around a third of FTSE 100 bosses sign letter warning of risks of leaving the EU

LEAVING the European Union would put the UK’s economy at risk and threaten jobs, the bosses of some of Britain’s biggest companies have said.

In a letter signed by 198 business leaders, including BT chairman and former KPMG boss Sir Michael Rake, company bosses have warned “leaving the EU would deter investment, threaten jobs and put the economy at risk”.

Signatories of the letter, which was published in The Times, include the chairs or chief executives of around a third of the businesses listed on the FTSE 100.

“Following the prime minister’s renegotiation, we believe that Britain is better off staying in a reformed European Union,” they wrote, adding that David Cameron had secured important concessions to improve competitiveness within the EU.

Number 10 said the letter was that business shares the prime minister’s concerns that Britain would be damaged by leaving the EU.

However, there were some notable absences from the list, including the bosses of Tesco, Sainsburys, RBS and Barclays. Around two thirds of the FTSE 100 failed to sign the letter and Leave campaigners said this demonstrated that business opinion is divided over whether Britain should leave the EU.

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