Stuart Rose leads stay in EU campaign

Lord Stuart Rose, former chief executive of Marks and Spencer, is heading the cross-party campaign to keep the UK in the European Union.

The Conservative peer has been unveiled as chair of ‘Britain Stronger in Europe’, the “in” campaign that is warning the UK public that leaving the EU would be a “leap into the unknown”.

In a statement, Rose said: “Most people, myself included, will make a hard-headed, practical calculation in the coming referendum on what is best for the British people. I believe that Britain is stronger in Europe.

“The choice in the coming referendum is between remaining stronger, safer and better off inside Europe, or taking a leap into the unknown, risking our prosperity, threatening our safety, and diminishing our influence in the world. I believe the case for Britain to remain in the EU is clear.”

The campaign has also confirmed that a group of cross-party members are also joining as backers of Britain Stronger in Europe. They include Conservative party politicians Flick Drummond MP, Sajjad Karim MEP, Ben Howlett MP, and campaign board member Damian Green MP, together with the Liberal Democrat peer Jim Wallace, Green party MP and campaign board member Caroline Lucas and Labour party MPs Emma Reynolds, Margaret Hodge, Stephen Kinnock and Chuka Umunna.

Former M&S boss launches stay in EU campaign

Along with MPs the campaign is also being championed by three previous prime ministers – Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and John Major, along with Sir Richard Branson who features in the campaign’s video broadcast, and West Ham boss and Apprentice star Baroness Karren Brady, who has been an announced as a board member of Britain Stronger in Europe.

Brady said: “The EU referendum question is: will Britain be stronger in or out of Europe? For me the answer is clear: British families, consumers and businesses are stronger in than out.”

The launch of the “in” campaign follows a group of Conservative, Labour and UKIP MPs who launched the take the UK out of the EU campaign last week. The exit groups’ core message is regarding sovereignty, with “take control” being its main slogan.

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised an EU referendum by the end of 2017.

Image: Lord Stuart Rose