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British PM joins celebrity businessman in backing Remain campaign

Xinhua, June 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday joined hands with a leading celebrity businessman to campaign for Britain's continued membership in the European Union (EU).

Alan Sugar, a well-known British business tycoon and media personality, became the latest public figure to call on his fellow countrymen to vote for staying in the EU. His intervention was immediately welcomed and endorsed by Downing Street and Prime Minister David Cameron.

Sugar, a member of the House of Lords who regularly appears in the BBC TV show "The Apprentice," said the British would "be the mugs of the world if we left," in an article published by the popular newspaper The Sun.

The 69-year-old businessman, who was made a life peer in 2009, was reported to be one of the top 100 richest people in Britain. He was appointed a government enterprise advisor last week.

Recalling his own experience of setting up businesses, he said: "I remember prior to us being a member of the EU, trying to move goods around to Europe. It was a bureaucratic nightmare."

"When we entered the EU, it was a breath of fresh air for me. It opened up a massive market. I was free to sell to and buy from who I wanted and where I wanted. Honestly, that's how my companies prospered," he explained in the article.

"Now I'm not saying the EU is perfect. But you don't sort something out by walking out of it," he argued.

In the article, Sugar reminded the Brexiteers of the economic consequences of leaving the EU.

"The Brexit people will argue no tariffs will be imposed, but they forget to say that, in order to make that happen and exit the EU, we'll still have to pay in billions to the EU to allow free circulation," he warned.

Reposting Sugar's commentary on his Twitter and Facebook accounts, Prime Minister David Cameron said it was "an important article."

"Lord Sugar knows about building businesses and creating jobs -- and he's clear that leaving Europe would be a 'gamble too far'," Cameron said.

"UK businesses, jobs and our economy are stronger in Europe," the prime minister stressed. Endit