Richard Branson: UK would be better off in Eurozone
Britain would be better off in the Eurozone, billionaire investor Sir Richard Branson has said.
“I think that if we were part of the euro right now, our currency would be a lot cheaper,” the Virgin founder said in an interview with the BBC yesterday, adding: “Great Britain would be doing that much better in trading in Europe.”
“Because the pound is a lot stronger than the euro, it makes it more difficult for us,” he added.
Branson’s comments came as finance ministers from the 19-member currency bloc engaged in crisis talks over the weekend in an effort to stave off a Greek default.
Branson, who has long campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU, used the BBC interview yesterday to make his case against a so-called “Brexit”.
Leaving the EU would be “catastrophic” and leave Britain with its hands “tied behind our back” in trade negotiations, Branson warned.
“We’re talking from a position of strength,” he said. “If we go back to being Great Britain again we will have our hands tied behind our back.”
When asked if he was willing to lead a formal campaign for the UK to stay in the EU, Sir Richard said that he was “not going to be on a soapbox”.
“I’ve avoided politics, and I’m not going to start now,” he added.
But Branson’s answer did not quell responses from opposing Eurosceptics.
Dan Hannan, a pro-Brexit MEP, later tweeted: “‘If we were part of the euro right now, Britain would be doing better. Please, please put Richard Branson in charge of the Yes campaign.”