EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has urged the Government to campaign positively to remain a leading member of the EU.

Britain’s constructors are calling for a referendum on EU membership to take place at the earliest opportunity and no later than 2016 in order to hold off creeping uncertainty which currently exists for business and industry.

The request was made ahead of the expected publication of a Referendum Bill as part of today’s Queen’s Speech and after research, conducted by EEF, showed that 85 per cent of UK manufacturers would vote to stay in the EU.

Chief Executive of EEF, Terry Scuoler, has called on the Prime Minister to lead a positive Government campaign for the UK to remain a leading and reforming member of the EU.

“British manufacturers remain overwhelmingly of the view that our economic wellbeing is linked to the EU and we must stay in membership,” said Terry.  

“It makes no sense to disengage from our major market where we would still face all the costs of compliance and enjoy none of the influence.

“We can achieve reform by being an active and leading member from within.”

EEF believes it is not in the UK’s long-term interest to wait until 2017 for a referendum and that one should take place in either May or Autumn of 2016.

“Now a referendum is going to take place, we need to get on with the negotiations and hold the referendum as soon as possible,” added Terry.

“Business and investors hate uncertainty and the longer this drags on the more damaging it will be.”

“It is good to see the Prime Minister forging ahead with an early meeting of his counterparts across the EU to make Britain’s case and Brussels is clearly signalling its willingness to engage.

“But, having put the recovery on a sound footing, we simply cannot afford to prevaricate on an issue of such importance for the future of our nation.

Terry concluded: “Having trailed this since early 2013 the Government must surely have a clear idea of its proposed areas for negotiation and it must now be a priority to get on with it.”

EEF currently holds the Chair of CEEMET, the representative body for around 250,000 manufacturing companies in Europe.