Manufacturers 'overwhelmingly in favour' of remaining in EU

EEF survey finds vast majority of engineering firms want to stay in Europe

Britain’s manufacturers remain overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in the EU according to a survey published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

According to the survey, published today, 85% of manufacturers would vote to stay in the EU, with a further 8% saying ‘don’t know’. In contrast, just 7% of companies would vote to pull out of the EU.

The vote is split fairly evenly across companies of all sizes, although the most positive support for staying in the EU comes from companies with greater than 250 employees. Ninety per cent would vote to stay in and not a single company would vote to come out.

These figures are in line with the last poll EEF carried out in September 2013 and come in spite of the continued economic problems in the Eurozone.

EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler said: “Despite the continued challenges faced by the Eurozone, manufacturers remain overwhelmingly of the view that our economic wellbeing is inextricably linked to the EU and we must stay in membership.

“It makes no sense to disengage from our major market. We can achieve reform by being an active member. It remains fanciful to think we can just pull up the drawbridge and walk away with no consequences.”

Scuoler became chair of Ceemet, the body which represents manufacturers in Europe, in the summer. The EEF has consistently argued that it is essential that Britain remains part of the European Union in the interests of manufacturing.

The survey of 160 companies was carried out in August, the EEF said.