Call to speed up EU referendum

MANUFACTURERS are calling for a referendum on EU membership to take place at the earliest opportunity to head off creeping uncertainty that now exists for business and industry.

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, believes it is not in the UK’s long- term interest to wait until 2017 and has stated that it should take place in either May or autumn of 2016. Chief executive Terry Scuoler said: “We need to get on with the negotiations and hold the referendum as soon as possible. Business and investors hate uncertainty and the longer this drags on the more damaging it will be.”

The call was made ahead of the publication of a Referendum Bill as part of the Queen’s Speech this week.