Cameron lobbying leaders on Brexit at Davos
(25 January 2016 – Europe) UK Prime Minister David Cameron is set to lobby business and political leaders in Switzerland ahead of the referendum on so-called Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) according to Bloomberg.
The news follows a push from Goldman Sachs and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline’s CEO Andrew Witty, to keep the UK in the EU.
Speaking to Bloomberg at Davos, Witty said that EU membership has brought “fragmented, independent, not-talking-to-each-other” regulators together in a single agency.
He added “They are drawing resources from all member states, it is an incredibly sophisticated, capable organization” on a par with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Witty said. “That’s a big win, and so for us that is probably the most important aspect of being part of the EU. We think it is a very important benefit.”
According to a sources, Goldman Sachs donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the “Britain Stronger in Europe” campaign to keep the UK inside the EU.
The view that it is best for the UK to remain in the EU has previously been backed by investment bank’s leaders including CEO Lloyd Blankfein and President Gary Cohn.
Cameron will address business leaders in Davos later this week.
The vote for Brexit may be held as early as June according to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told a Davos panel that it would be a “catastrophe” if the UK left.
“I hope the Britons decide to stay,” he said.
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