Douglas Carswell's Blog

British business joins the debate over Europe

Perhaps the most pernicious Euro myth is the idea that business wants more EU integration. Today that falsehood is finally laid to rest with the launch of Business for Britain.

Over 500 leading wealth creators have signed up to this new campaign to change our relationship with Europe.

The fallacy that business wants more Europe has done immense harm down the years. It was such arguments that helped push us into the ERM, the precursor to monetary union.

The idea that business was behind it encouraged politicians to sign away powers to Brussels, a consequence of which is that UK companies are smothered in red tape.

To be sure, some businesses want more Brussels regulations. It can, after all, be a handy way of shutting out the competition. But the idea that most businesses and entrepreneurs support the Euro system is simply wrong.

No longer will a handful of corporate lobbyists with a snout in the Brussels trough be able to portray themselves as the authentic voice of British business.  The pro-integration Foreign Office cannot be allowed to keep getting away with claims that business backs their every deal.

On a recent trip to Brussels, I was surprised to discover that David Cameron's Europe speech has had zero impact on UK officials over there. None. Zilch.  Officials aren't merely carrying on as before, they cheerfully admit as much if challenged.  There's "no mandate" for trying to secure Dave's new deal, UKREP officials smirk, barely concealing their hope that there will be a more pliant administration in Westminster in a couple of years.

Second source of surprise was the discovery that these officials had invited the head of the Peter Mandelson-backed campaign in favour of more Europe, to arrange part of the itinery. The aim I suppose, from UKREP's point of view, was to reinforce the idea that business wants more integration.

The effect was the precise opposite of that intended. Every single one of the lobbyists wheeled out to speak for more EU was a corporate lobbyist speaking on behalf of a vested interest. Not one real wealth creator in the room.

From today, British business has an authentic voice in the debate about our future in Europe.  Whitehall officials take note.

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