NI business, union, and voluntary leaders back ‘remain’
Leaders of Northern Irish business groups, trade unions, and the voluntary sector have released a joint statement in support of a ‘remain’ vote in Thursday’s EU referendum.
Signatories to the letter include CBI director Nigel Smyth; NIC-ICTU assistant general secretary, Peter Bunting; NICVA chief executive Seamus McAleavey; NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts; NIFDA director Michael Bell; manufacturing NI chief executive Stephen Kelly; and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Sinead McLaughlin.
The letter says the economic evidence overwhelmingly favours remaining within the EU.
While it recognises the need for EU reform, the letter said the interests of the local community and the next generation of young people seeking work would be better served by a vote to ‘remain’ on Thursday July 23.
It also claims 26,000 SMEs in Northern Ireland rely on the single market for trade, and that 50,000 local depend on ongoing links to Europe.
The letter comes within days of a poll showing a swing in favour of a ‘leave’ vote among Northern Ireland voters.
The survey, carried out by market research agency Millward Brown, showed 48 per cent of people in Northern Ireland that intend to vote will choose to remain.
Almost one third – 32 per cent – want to leave with 20 per cent still undecided.
The letter in full:
“Representing businesses, workers and the voluntary and community sector, we are firmly of the view that Northern Ireland’s future prosperity is better off within the European Union.
“We are clear that continued membership of the European Union will benefit local workers, employers, consumers and our community and voluntary sector. While we recognise that Europe is not perfect and needs reform, we believe the interests of our community and the next generation of young people seeking work is for the UK to remain in the EU.
“Virtually every economist agrees that leaving the EU would be an enormous shock, creating significant uncertainty impacting on investment and jobs. Leaving the European Single Market will put tens of thousands of jobs at risk in the future. Evidence from Oxford Economics indicates that Northern Ireland is most at risk and be most significantly impacted by a vote to leave.
• 26,000 SMEs in Northern Ireland rely on trade into the Single Market. We want to see those businesses supported
• 50,000 jobs in Northern Ireland could be linked to trade with the European Union. We want to see those jobs protected
“Tens of thousands of jobs can be created if we remain in the EU. All the organisations supporting this statement firmly believe that Northern Ireland’s economic interests and future prosperity are best served by remaining in the EU, protecting equality of opportunity and growing prosperity for the next generation.
“We hope those entitled to vote on Thursday will vote. We also hope they will consider the economic evidence in coming to their decision on how they cast their vote in this critical referendum.”
