LONDON, May 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Retail magnate and star of Dragons' Den Theo Paphitis (http://www.theopaphitis.com/) has vocalised his support for small and medium-size enterprise (SME) owners as they make their EU Referendum decisions, and for the UK200Group's Campaign for Clarity, which provides impartial information to this key business group.
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He said, "There's no doubt that in the medium to long term, leaving will make no negative difference to trade. Whoever tells you otherwise is mad, because it defies every piece of logic and trade in the history of man. I can't see Angela Merkel saying we don't want to trade with the UK, we are going to lose £16 billion of car sales and make however many people redundant in Germany. It is rubbish.
"On the other hand, whoever tells you there will not be a short-term shock if we vote to leave is also gilding the lily. It's worrying that people are prepared to go to these lengths to convince the British public to vote a certain way. It panics me because it means I'm being manipulated, I'm not being given the whole truth.
"I am reasonably well connected, and if I can't make my mind up, what chance has the man or the woman on the omnibus got? There is this Project Fear about what will happen if we leave, which is absolute codswallop. Then, on the other side, the Leave campaign need to make very clear what they see will happen once we leave, if that's what we vote to do."
"Because of this lack of information, I think that the UK200Group's Campaign for Clarity is a vital project. Through its members - accountants and solicitors - the group is reaching out to the SME community and providing unbiased information so business owners can make their minds up for themselves."
James Abbott, President of the UK200Group, said, "Theo is absolutely correct in that there is a complete lack of factual information for voters to make an informed choice. That's why our upcoming EU debate, aimed squarely at small and medium business people, is key.
"Frankly, I feel voters will be relying upon the opinion from those characters they like the most and in short, we need a campaign based upon facts rather than fear. I have an open mind regarding which way my vote will fall, but I do know I want to be excited by what the future holds post referendum and at the moment, it all seems like we are picking through the least bad option based upon which facts we perceive to be the least unreliable. Our nation deserves more."
The UK200Group (http://www.uk200group.co.uk/), the UK's leading membership association of quality-assured independent chartered accountancy and law firms, is seeking to provide unbiased guidance to the SME community - a group whose importance to the UK economy cannot be understated.
Collectively, the UK200Group's members support over 150,000 SMEs, many of whom are already asking their accountants and lawyers how a 'Yes' or 'No' vote will affect their businesses.
Central to the project will be a live-streamed debate between high-profile members of the 'In' and 'Out' campaigns tomorrow (11 May) at Coventry University London Campus (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/culc/), University House, 109-117 Middlesex St, London E1 7JF from 4.30PM to 6.30PM (debate itself from 5.00PM to 6.00PM).
The debate will be chaired by leading futurologist and author Dr James Bellini (http://www.jamesbellini.com/), and will include high-profile figures such as Yvette Cooper MP (http://www.yvettecooper.com/) and Lucy Thomas, Deputy Director of Britain Stronger in Europe (http://www.strongerin.co.uk/) making the Remain case and David Davis MP (http://www.daviddavismp.com/)and Douglas Carswell MP (http://www.douglascarswell.com/), making the case for leaving the EU.
The UK200Group, which was established in 1986, represents a group of trusted, quality-assured business advisers, who have over 150,000 SME clients in total. As such, the UK200Group acts as the voice for 1,500 charities, over 10% of all registered academies, more than 3,700 farms, 800 healthcare businesses and over 500 property and construction professionals.
The event is by invitation only. Journalists are welcome to attend the event, but must be accredited beforehand.
For further information, please contact George Murdoch at george@famouspublicity.com or +44(0)3333-442-341 or Tina Fotherby on +44(0)7703-409-622 or tina@famouspublicity.com.
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