EU costs outweigh the benefits

Paul Nuttall, UKIP’s Deputy Leader

The results of a poll among business leaders showing the majority believe the costs of being in the EU outweigh the benefits has been welcomed by UKIP.

"This YouGov survey reveals that the poll of more than 1,000 bosses from companies of all sizes and types shows overwhelming backing for an in-out referendum on our membership of the EU with 66% in support," said Paul Nuttall, deputy party leader.

The survey, commissioned by the Eurosceptic group Business for Britain, found that 46 per cent of business leaders believe the costs of complying with EU ed tape outweigh the benefits of being in the EU, compared with 37 per cent who disagree. Seventeen per cent were undecided.

"Business leaders want the Government to repatriate powers in nine separate areas including employment law, environmental regulation and health and safety legislation. These are plainly areas which have great financial implications for businesses and I totally understand why bosses do not want Brussels controlling them," said Mr Nuttall, North West Euro-MP.

"They can see that other markets, such as Brazil, are target areas rather than the failing Single Market.

"However, talk by David Cameron about repatriation is doomed, the EU does not want to negotiate over handing back powers. It is a power hungry monster that wants to take more to itself, not less," he explained.