OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU NEEDS TO BE RE-NEGOTIATED.

Transcript of my opinion column in The Times, April 22, 2013, regarding Business for Britain, and the need to re-negotiate our relationship with the EU.

Over the last few years the British people have become increasingly sceptical about the European Union. A clear majority no longer think that British taxpayers, farmers, small businesses or consumers are getting a good deal from Brussels.

The kneejerk response of many defenders of the existing configuration of the EU is to insist that the EU is good for British business and that any big changes to Britain’s relationship with Brussels will hurt our economic interests. I’m reminded of the late 1990s when many big business voices - although that didn't include me - poured scorn on the public’s worries about the Euro. We now know that the people were right and it took the hugely successful Business for Sterling campaign to confront groups like the CBI and make the case against UK membership of what has become the disastrous single currency project.

It’s time for British businesses to organise again and make it clear that while some business leaders are always ready to defend the EU, many of us are increasingly concerned about its direction. 500 business figures have today signed up to the Business for Britain campaign to support a renegotiation of our EU relationship and get a better deal for the people who create this nation’s jobs and wealth.

I’m one of those signatories. I've run businesses in this country for 30 years, one of which became the world's biggest privately-owned mobile telecoms business employing thousands of people, and giving me the dubious honour of becoming quite possibly Britain's biggest personal tax payer.

Many people were hopeful that the EU’s single market would bring big benefits to Britain, but while it might once have been the case that being part of the Single Market was of net benefit, the costs and overregulation from Brussels now threaten to significantly outweigh any of those benefits.

Start-up SMEs, many of whom undertake no international activity, still have to comply with the red tape that Brussels has designed for cross-border trade. That makes no sense. Some economic regulation is necessary to facilitate fair competition, but Brussels often seems to regulate for regulation’s sake. Its tendency towards a one-size-fits-all approach is making it harder for European businesses to compete with the world’s more lightly-regulated emerging economies.

Other problems loom, too.

The Financial Transaction Tax is a key example of Brussels’ detrimental thinking. If forced through with just eleven Member States' support, it risks damaging the competitiveness of the entire Single Market.

The City of London Corporation estimates the tax would add nearly £4 billion to the cost of issuing UK debt - the last thing our economy needs as it rebuilds. London is still the financial centre of the world and we need to do everything to maintain and promote that status.

Other businesses in other parts of Europe share many of the concerns of British business. They worry about the EU’s declining share of world trade and the EU’s contribution to that decline. If Britain presents sensible reforms to the economic architecture of the EU, many businesses in Germany, Spain, Poland and across the continent will encourage their governments to take those suggestions seriously.

We know that an opportunity for change is certainly coming. The EU will need to alter its Treaties to deal with the challenges posed by the still grave Eurozone crisis. As EU leaders think about fiscal union and other Treaty changes - possibly taking big steps towards federalism - we should be debating the kind of relationship we want to have with the EU. It's not about being in or out; business wants a more balanced relationship - and getting that balance right is vital for this nation’s competitiveness.

Business wants to see Brussels recognise that a diversity of economies requires far more flexibility than is currently provided for. If the EU is to thrive, with Britain in it, it needs to adapt. Tweaking reforms and paying lip-service to change have failed to address Europe’s economic woes and democratic deficit. The EU would benefit from showing it is open to decentralisation and deregulation in the areas where it would boost competitiveness. ]The ‘European project’ is always changing and evolving. In this fiercely competitive age it needs to change again. An end to a one-size-fits-all model of regulation is central to the change that is necessary. Business for Britain will be at the Prime Minister’s elbow, encouraging him to be bold in his demands for a more competitive EU. If he delivers it won’t just be Britain that will prosper. The European mainland’s record number of unemployed people will benefit, too.

John Caudwell, Entrepreneur and philanthropist.

More links:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3745353.ece (subscription required).
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/500-business-leaders-call-for-new-deal-in-europe-8582087.html?origin=internalSearch

http://businessforbritain.org/

http://www.cityam.com/article/britain-s-business-elite-becoming-increasingly-eurosceptic

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10008978/500-business-leaders-tell-David-Cameron-to-negotiate-a-better-deal-with-Europe.html

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b740e8e4-aa83-11e2-bc0d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2RAzcgEnS (subscription required).

EU REFERENDUM: CLEVER CAMERON STRATEGY, BUT WILL HE LET NEGOTIATIONS BUMP ALONG TO GAIN TORY ADVANTAGE?

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

January 23, 2013.

EU REFERENDUM: CLEVER CAMERON STRATEGY, BUT WILL HE LET NEGOTIATIONS BUMP ALONG TO GAIN TORY ADVANTAGE?

Commenting on Prime Minister David Cameron's speech about a new treaty for Britain in the EU, entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell said:

"David Cameron has been very clever - this is great manipulation of the British public on the back of a strategy which would actually be better for that British public anyway.

"I'm in complete agreement not to force an immediate split with Europe, but rather that terms are negotiated that would get the best for Britain out of the relationship with Europe but without us being exposed to the negative aspects.

"If we can arrive at that, then great - but I doubt David Cameron will get the outcome I, and many others, would be happy with.

"If we do get into a position with Europe which is acceptable to me, for one - and most probably the British public in general too - through some hard negotiation, then I'd be voting to stay in.

"But that negotiation needs a hardball approach to make Europe acceptable to Britons. I suspect David Cameron will be happy to let the negotiations bump along in time for a referendum mid next term of office.

"It's actually a pretty smart strategy to keep the Tories in power while appearing to do the best for Britain."

In 2006, John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5bn. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids.

@johndcaudwell

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.caudwell.com

CAUDWELL: EUROPE ON TIGHTROPE AS MERKEL AND SARKOZY BALANCE WIN AND LOSE.

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

October 22, 2011.

CAUDWELL: EUROPE ON TIGHTROPE AS MERKEL AND SARKOZY BALANCE WIN AND LOSE.

Commenting on the current Eurozone talks, entrepreneur John Caudwell said:

“Merkel and Sarkozy will struggle to find agreement over the financial crises. Sarkozy has everything to gain – he desperately needs a solution because Franceis more vulnerable to contagion, and its credit rating is under threat, while Merkel has the lion’s share of everything to win – and lose.

“Finding a comprehensive solution which will work will be immensely complicated, even for one member state. But since the solution has to work for all member states, this means the complexity of the proposal grows exponentially with the self-interests of each country piled one on top of the other.

“I also believe there is an element of Merkel keeping her powder dry for now, but she is, of course, well aware of the ill condition of Europe, and cannot allow it to deteriorate too much for fear of a domino-effect collapse. It will cost her more than anyone else; she knows she has to tread carefully.

“There is a crucial balancing act going on as Europe walks a precarious tightrope with the rest of the world perched on its shoulders.”

In 2006, John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5bn. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids .

@johndcaudwell

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800