They’re off! Britons warned leaving EU is a ‘leap into the dark’

Former M&S boss Lord Stuart Rose claims Britain’s membership of the EU is worth £450 year to every person in the country as he launches the “In” campaign. The chairman of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign attacked those who want to leave as “quitters” who are “running away” from attempts to reform the EU. Lord Rose said that while he has been highly critical of the EU in the past, he wants change and not to quit, adding: “Wanting reform, however, is not the same as wanting to leave.”

To claim that the patriotic course for Britain is to retreat, withdraw and become inward looking is to misunderstand who we are as a nation.

Lord Rose, leading the 'In’ campaign

In a separate interview with Sky News, Lord Rose said he would campaign for Britain to stay in Europe “come what may” - even if Prime Minister David Cameron failed to negotiate a better deal. The In campaign also has the support of  all three living former Prime Ministers: Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The “Out” side continues to be hamstrung by division and rivalries, with two groupings, “Vote Leave” and “Leave.EU”, competing for precedence. Speaking on Sky’s Murnaghan programme on Sunday, UKIP leader Nigel Farage suggested London mayor Boris Johnson could be persuaded to lead the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

We will get some concessions from Europe. Europe does not want us out of Europe.

Lord Rose

Europe Lord Rose