Poll cash Superdry co-founder’s £1m for second EU vote

JULIAN Dunkerton, the cofounder of clothing chain Superdry, is giving £1 million to the campaign for a vote on the final Brexit deal.

The man who developed Cheltenham-based chain Cult Clothing before co-founding fashion brand Superdry, said he is giving the money to the People’s Vote as he senses a shift in the public mood against Brexit.

He wants to pay for polling to “give confidence” to people who are calling for a fresh referendum.

The 53-year-old father of two is one of the richest people in Britain, with an estimated wealth of £460 million.

He told the Observer newspaper: “I’m putting some of my money behind the People’s Vote campaign because we have a genuine chance to turn this around.

“I’ve got a good instinct for when a mood is going to change and we’re in one of those moments now. It’s becoming clear there is no vision for Brexit and the politicians have made a mess of it.

“Increasingly, the public knows that Brexit is going to be a disaster. Maybe they just need to be given that little bit of hope that comes when they see how opinion is moving.”

Earlier this year Mr Dunkerton stepped down from Superdry to concentrate on his other business interests, including a cider company and The Lucky Onion collection of boutique hotels, country pubs and restaurants. He retains shares in Superdry but has taken a back seat from running it.

He told the Observer that if Brexit had happened 20 years ago, Superdry would not have become the global brand it is now as it would have struggled with tariffs, customs and not benefited from the single market. The People’s Vote campaign says it wants to ensure the Government’s Brexit deal is put before the country in a public vote “so that we can decide if a decision that will affect our lives for generations makes the country better or worse off.”

It has been criticised for ignoring the 2016 referendum result that showed 52 per cent to 48 per cent in favour of leaving the European Union.

Cheltenham for Europe, part of the Britain for Europe group that opposes Brexit, also supports the People’s Vote campaign.

Last week, analysis showed that more than 100 UK areas that voted for Brexit in 2016 would now back Remain.

It prompted renewed cross-party support for a second EU referendum, the Mirror newspaper reported. philip.norris@reachplc.com