Billionaire digger firm boss and Cameron pal tells his 5,000 staff there’s ‘little to fear’ from Brexit’
Britain has 'little to fear' from leaving the EU says business giant in a letter to workers which will shock the PM
ONE OF David Cameron’s biggest business backers has told staff to back a Brexit –as there is “little to fear” by quitting the EU.
Lord Anthony Bamford, the billionaire boss of iconic digger maker JCB, insists the nation can stand on its own two feet and prosper outside the bloc.
And he ripped into the EU’s shrinking role on the world stage, claiming that its share of global economic output has almost halved since Britain joined the common market in 1973.
In a letter to all 5,000 JCB UK employees, Sir Anthony writes: “I voted to stay in the Common Market in 1975. I did not vote for a political union.
“I did not expect us to hand over sovereignty to the EU. I certainly did not expect unaccountable leaders in Brussels to govern over us,.”
The 70 year-old – who became managing director 40 years ago - adds: “The UK is a trading nation and the fifth largest economy in the world.
“I am very confident that we can stand on our own two feet.
“I believe that JCB and the UK can prosper just as much outside the EU so there is very little to fear if we do choose to leave.”
Sir Anthony has donated over £4 million to the Tories either personally or through JCB since 2001 and has been a key business ally of the PM for years.
David Cameron gave his self-styled game-changing immigration speech in November 2014 at the JCB HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire.
He hailed the business as a “great British brand” when he opened their new £60 million plant in Sao Paolo, Brazil in 2010. He also opened the company’s £25 million plant in Indian in 2006.
Four years ago, No.10 labelled JCB “one of Britain’s best exports”.
While Sir Anthony was known to be a supporter of the Leave campaign, his friendship with the PM makes the letter a huge blow for the Government.
Sources last night claimed Sir Anthony was one of those who has come under huge pressure in recent days to keep his personal views private as No.10 tries to coordinate a corporate show of concern about a Brexit.
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US bank, and pro-EU donor Citigroup yesterday said it may be forced to “rebalance” its business away from Britain if the country votes out on June 23.
But in his letter Sir Anthony says he does not believe relations with the EU will change if voters back a Brexit.
He writes: “JCB was selling to Europe long before the UK joined the Common Market in 1973 and it will remain an important market for JCB.”
He tells staff the Referendum is “entirely a decision for you”
But he adds: “If the democratic decision after June 23 is to remain, it will be interesting to see how the UK fits into the EU of the future, given that political and fiscal union remains its ultimate goal.”
Who is Lord Anthony Bamford?
The chairman of JCB is one of the UK’s most influential businessmen.
Born in Staffordshire in 1945, the 70-year-old has been at the helm of his families' company for 31 years,.
The multinational heavy equipment company – named for Sir Anthony’s dad Joseph Cyril Bamford – employs almost 11,000 people around the world, 5000 of them based in the UK, in the construction of diggers, tractors and construction material.
Sir Anthony is close ally and major donor to the David Cameron’s Conservatives, giving £1million pound before the 2010 general election alone.
David Cameron elevated him to the House of Lords in October 2013 where he sits a Conservative peer.
With a net worth of £3.1billion he has been championed by the PM as a titan of industry, accompanying him on trips to Brazil and India to promote British business.
He has been an outspoken about the importance of manufacturing describing it as the 'lifeblood' of the British economy,
In his private life, he is a collector of vintage cars. His wife, Carole, is the owner of the luxury brand Bamford Cosmetics.
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