Responding to the Prime Minister's comments on a potential European referendum, Ian Larrard, Director of GWE The Initiative, part of Business West said:

"Businesses in Swindon and the South West need the ability to trade as part of a European single market, as currently 60% of exported goods from this region are to these markets, but they are growing more and more concerned about the cumulative impact of the rules imposed by Brussels.
 
"The Prime Minister is right to draw a distinction between 'the parts of our European engagement we want and those we want to end'. Our members and other businesses tell us that one of the significant barriers to business growth is the endless stream of new European legislation and the court rulings that raise their costs and lower their competitiveness. But at the same time, they want free and unfettered access to other European markets.
 
"Before rushing into policy changes or referenda, we think that ministers need to take a clear and unequivocal steer from the real economy, and ensure that any decisions favour our long-term competitiveness, not short-term electoral calculation.”