We can bring change and reform to the EU — abandoning it is not the answer
We, the undersigned, take note of the decision by the Scottish people to renew their faith in our future together as a United Kingdom.
We believe that we now must work together to face the increased challenges to our security, prosperity and society – including a resurgent Russia, threats to our energy supplies, greater risks from terrorism and a still fragile economic recovery.
Another referendum, this time on Europe, could be the next big test for the nation’s future, creating further considerable uncertainty and great political risk for the UK in the coming years. We need to hold the UK together now and, as far as Europe is concerned, the best course for us to follow is for Britain to unite in its aims to bring change and reform to the EU, not abandon it.
The European reforms that major UK party leaders have urged have now been endorsed by all EU leaders in their agenda for the next five years, decided in June. Every other EU member state is determined to work with us for a more prosperous, more effective EU, not just to ensure that Britain does not leave but because this is what they recognise the EU needs.
One sure way of bringing renewed purpose to our country is for the whole UK to work with our allies to make these changes happen.
We urge the UK’s political parties to raise their game in leading, not leaving, the EU. This has to become a much stronger priority for all the mainstream political leaders if Britain is going to make the impact it seeks in Europe.
For the sake of all Europe’s citizens and our common future in a world that has become more challenging and dangerous than at any time since the end of the Cold War, we need those leaders to make and pursue the case for change in Europe with more dedication and energy than we have seen in recent years. This is the way to ensure Britain stays as a powerful member of a reformed EU.
We must now be stronger together. If not, soon we will surely be weaker apart
Signed,
Ken Clarke QC MP
Co-President, British Influence
Lord Mandelson
Co- President, British Influence
Charles Kennedy MP
President, European Movement
Alan Johnson MP
Caroline Spelman MP
Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
Baroness King of Bow
Lord Hannay of Chiswick, CH, GCMG
Lord Brittan of Spennithorne
Vice Chairman, UBS Investment Bank
Sir Andrew Cahn
Chair of the International Trade and Investment Committee of the City of London
Sir Roger Carr
Chairman, BAE Systems
Guy Dawson
Director, ASA International
Lord Jay of Ewelme
Lady Barbara Judge CBE
Lord Liddle
Sir Mike Rake
President, CBI
Sir Martin Sorrell
CEO, WPP
Bill Winters
CEO, Renshaw Bay
Rajay Naik
Director of Government and External Affairs, The Open University
Henry Tinsley
Founder of Green and Black Chocolate
Charles Grant
Director, Centre for European Reform
Petros Fassoulas
Chairman, European Movement
Alisdair McIntosh
Director, Business for New Europe
Peter Luff
Director, Mass1
Peter Wilding
Director, British Influence
Prof Maurice Fraser
Head of LSE European Institute
Frances Edmonds
D Group
Susan Hitch
Manager Lord Sainsbury of Turville’s pro bono programme
Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Sir Colin Budd
Lord Taverne
Lord Maclennan
We believe that we now must work together to face the increased challenges to our security, prosperity and society – including a resurgent Russia, threats to our energy supplies, greater risks from terrorism and a still fragile economic recovery.
Another referendum, this time on Europe, could be the next big test for the nation’s future, creating further considerable uncertainty and great political risk for the UK in the coming years. We need to hold the UK together now and, as far as Europe is concerned, the best course for us to follow is for Britain to unite in its aims to bring change and reform to the EU, not abandon it.
The European reforms that major UK party leaders have urged have now been endorsed by all EU leaders in their agenda for the next five years, decided in June. Every other EU member state is determined to work with us for a more prosperous, more effective EU, not just to ensure that Britain does not leave but because this is what they recognise the EU needs.
One sure way of bringing renewed purpose to our country is for the whole UK to work with our allies to make these changes happen.
We urge the UK’s political parties to raise their game in leading, not leaving, the EU. This has to become a much stronger priority for all the mainstream political leaders if Britain is going to make the impact it seeks in Europe.
For the sake of all Europe’s citizens and our common future in a world that has become more challenging and dangerous than at any time since the end of the Cold War, we need those leaders to make and pursue the case for change in Europe with more dedication and energy than we have seen in recent years. This is the way to ensure Britain stays as a powerful member of a reformed EU.
We must now be stronger together. If not, soon we will surely be weaker apart
Signed,
Ken Clarke QC MP
Co-President, British Influence
Lord Mandelson
Co- President, British Influence
Charles Kennedy MP
President, European Movement
Alan Johnson MP
Caroline Spelman MP
Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
Baroness King of Bow
Lord Hannay of Chiswick, CH, GCMG
Lord Brittan of Spennithorne
Vice Chairman, UBS Investment Bank
Sir Andrew Cahn
Chair of the International Trade and Investment Committee of the City of London
Sir Roger Carr
Chairman, BAE Systems
Guy Dawson
Director, ASA International
Lord Jay of Ewelme
Lady Barbara Judge CBE
Lord Liddle
Sir Mike Rake
President, CBI
Sir Martin Sorrell
CEO, WPP
Bill Winters
CEO, Renshaw Bay
Rajay Naik
Director of Government and External Affairs, The Open University
Henry Tinsley
Founder of Green and Black Chocolate
Charles Grant
Director, Centre for European Reform
Petros Fassoulas
Chairman, European Movement
Alisdair McIntosh
Director, Business for New Europe
Peter Luff
Director, Mass1
Peter Wilding
Director, British Influence
Prof Maurice Fraser
Head of LSE European Institute
Frances Edmonds
D Group
Susan Hitch
Manager Lord Sainsbury of Turville’s pro bono programme
Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Sir Colin Budd
Lord Taverne
Lord Maclennan