BRC to remain neutral about EU referendum

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Feb 23, 2016

The argument for and against a potential Brexit, or exit from the European Union, continues to be a hot topic in the UK.

Now, the British Retail Consortium, whose role is to assist, enhance, inform and shape the British retail industry, has stated that it will remain neutral on the EU referendum.

"The UK's relationship with the EU is complicated and covers many areas of public life; political, economic and cultural. Different aspects of this debate will weigh differently with different people and it is not for us to say how people should view these different issues. The choice on how to vote is theirs alone," it said.

However, the BRC also said that it is clear that the referendum decision will affect the retail industry, as well as the customers it serves, and that "it is only right that we explain what we think that will mean for our businesses, their staff and the customer."

The BRC will aim to highlight considerations for voters in the context of the economic aspects that relate to the retail industry and its customers, it said.

On Tuesday, the bosses of a third of Britain's biggest companies wrote an open letter to The Times newspaper, stating that an exit from the European Union would put the economy at risk and threaten jobs.

The referendum will take place on June 23.