CBI chief urges bosses to turn public against Brexit

THE Confederation of British Industry sparked fury last night after urging bosses to turn the public against Brexit.

Paul Drechsler, the corporate lobbying group’s chairman, told executives to ‘speak up’ and agitate to keep Britain in the EU customs union.

At a black tie dinner in the City of London, he launched a tirade against the risk of an exodus of jobs after Brexit.

The CBI played a key role in Project Fear – the attempt to convince voters to back Remain in the referendum.

Speaking to several hundred company

bosses on Thursday, Mr Drechsler said: ‘It’s time to speak up. The real risk is to say nothing and reap the blame later for our silence now.’ He called on bosses to lay out the case for a Brexit transition period or risk jobs moving. He then urged them to make the case for a customs union and a deep relationship with the single market. The 61- year-old continued: ‘Speak up and perhaps, 40 years from now, on an evening like this, this room will be filled once again with those whom we once met. Those who heard our stories, and who remember what we said about business – who remember what business did, when they needed us to act.’

Tory Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg said: ‘This is the standard line from the EUfunded CBI which has consistently promoted close European integration. It supported the euro and strongly opposed Brexit. It merely represents vested interests and cares nothing for consumers.’

Former Cabinet minister John Redwood added: ‘Mr Drechsler should be really pleased so many extra jobs have been created since we voted to leave the EU, contrary to the gloom of the Remain campaign. We’ve had enough of the gloom – let’s look at what’s going on on the ground.’