EEF chief sounds “abyss of uncertainty” Brexit warning

Speaking at the EEF’s annual dinner, Temple laid out the economic and political argument for staying in the EU and called for the UK to take a leading role in driving reform from within.

Highlighting the importance of the EU economically, Temple said, “Our manufacturers, big and small depend on access to it, its supply chains and production networks. Large and easy access to market matters far more than just its spending power. It matters because it is a platform for scale. Big domestic markets allow their companies to grow quickly and take a strong global position.

“The EU is a useful whipping post for populists but the facts of our economic lives in Britain are European. The job of our elected politicians is to commit themselves to using the power and influence they have to make it work better, rather than make excuses about the limitations they face, and simply giving up and taking us out into an abyss of uncertainty and risk."