• Leahy, Cheshire, Bolland and King get involved in EU referendum debate
  • The bosses claim the move could prove “catastrophic”
  • They warn an ‘out’ vote would have an impact on prices and inflation
  • Treasury analysis predicts an EU exit would add £220 to the annual cost of food and clothing

The former chiefs of Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and B&Q have warned that shop prices will rocket if the UK votes to leave the EU.

Sir Terry Leahy, Marc Bolland, Justin King and Sir Ian Cheshire have weighed in on the EU referendum debate with an article in the Mail on Sunday that claims the move could prove “catastrophic” for millions of families.

They argue that an ‘out’ vote on June 23 could lead to job losses and the reduced value of the pound, and dismiss claims that the UK would be better off without EU regulation as “nonsense”.

Instead, they claim so-called Brexit would make it harder for UK firms to sell goods to Europe, warning that if the UK were to cut ties with Brussels the French could impose a ban on British lamb.

In the full article below, the retail bosses also write that Westminster regulation could be “more onerous” than what is currently in place.

 

“We have had the privilege of leading some of Britain’s largest and most successful retailers. Over the past 20 years, retail has been through a phenomenal transformation and remains one of the most dynamic and innovative industries in the UK.

Consumers have never had such a large range of choice and quality. They can shop 24 hours a day, either in stores or online, at prices more affordable than ever. This has all been achieved with Britain as part of the European Union.

Like the Leave campaigners, we believe Britain is a truly world-class country. But unlike them, we believe an exit could be catastrophic for the consumer recovery on which so much of our economic stability depends.

It is impossible for us to see how there could be an exit without an impact on prices and inflation, the strong relationships we’ve built with our EU supplier partners, and the broader innovation and digital agenda.

The unintended consequences of a Leave vote and the uncertainty it would create would be a massive shock to the system. It would probably mean further depreciation of the pound, driving up the price of imported goods for consumers.

In the UK we have strong and sophisticated supply chain relationships across Europe, integrated in a way they never were in the past. At the moment there are no barriers to trade within the EU. In trading with the rest of the world, all sorts of rules and tariffs get in the way.

A vote to exit would necessitate a complete renegotiation of our trading arrangements, which can only be of detriment to UK consumers. We can also expect our trading partners to exploit this renegotiation to their benefit. It’s difficult to imagine French farmers will continue to allow British lamb to be freely imported.

This leads to questions over the future of British agriculture as well as food manufacturing – an industry in which we are net exporters – and therefore the ultimate impact on jobs.

There is no guarantee we can renegotiate quickly and efficiently enough to deal with some of these issues. As large retailers, our experience over many years is that scale gets you a better deal and being under time pressure is never helpful.

British retail’s advancement over the next 10 years is heavily reliant on investment in digital technology. The EU’s recently agreed Digital Single Market strategy will open up opportunities for business and consumers across Europe, making the single market fit for the digital age.

Britain is the digital hub of Europe and has led the way in shaping the digital economy. Indeed, this country is the ecommerce capital of Europe, with a market share of over one third. We have the expertise to continue to lead and it would be a massive missed opportunity to leave the EU now and not be part of the broader revolution.

Finally, there is the issue of regulation. The much-cited suggestion that we will be free of the apparent constraints of over-regulation if we leave Europe is nonsense.

We need regulation to protect consumers and, if we want to continue to trade with Europe, the rules still apply. If we left, there is the risk that Westminster would continue to build additional regulation on top of the European laws, making it more onerous rather than less. So it makes much more sense to have a seat at the table to shape future regulatory change rather than simply be bound by it.

There is no doubt this is a fundamental decision for the British people. While we are not advocates of scaremongering, it is just good business to understand the risks before reaching a conclusion in this complex debate. We have a responsibility to help inform the consumers we have served for many years.

While the EU is by no means perfect, exit would hit consumers the hardest. For that reason we will be voting to stay and continue to play our part in the successful and growing Europe we all want to see.”

Sir Terry Leahy, Justin King, Marc Bolland and Sir Ian Cheshire

The retail bosses’ intervention comes as Treasury analysis estimates that an EU exit would add approximately £220 to the annual cost of food, drink, clothing and footwear.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Independent studies show that a vote to leave would hit the value of the pound, making imports more expensive and raising prices in the shops. Families are better off voting to remain in the EU – the alternative is a leap in the dark that would risk prosperity and security.”

Commenting on the analysis conducted by the Treasury, Asda president and chief executive Andy Clarke said: “Asda has always been famous for its low prices and, whatever the outcome of the referendum, we remain committed to that pledge.

“But a vote to leave represents uncertainty, including on prices. That is why our position in this debate has been clear from the outset – Britain should remain within the EU.”

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