Brexit May Disintegrate EU And Cause Damage To The UK, Billionaire Says
UK billionaire and Europhile Sir Richard Branson warned a bleak future if Britons decide to part ways with the European Union.
He uttered his cautionary view ahead of upcoming summer referendum that would ultimately decide the fate of UK's relationship with the union. His statement reaffirms his EU-friendly position that runs against the Euroskeptic elements who are putting a lot of pressure on David Cameron who is currently negotiating in Brussels with the hope of striking a compromise deal on EU reforms.
"I think it would be a very, very, very, very sad day if British people voted to leave. I think it would be very, very damaging for Great Britain ... and I think it would be the start, most likely, of the break-up of the European Union...I mean having the European Union there are just so many benefits and I just hope sense will prevail when it comes to having the vote on it," said Branson as quoted by Sky News.
According to a report by Express, Cameron is trying to secure reforms to the Maastricht Treaty which bound UK with the rest of continental Europe. Since his re-election, Cameron is essentially walking on a thin thread with all sorts of pressure from different political sides. The British premier is trying to cut a reasonable deal on migrant benefit cuts and UK's departure from EU's principle of an "ever-closer union".
As mentioned in a Reuters news report, pro-EU Britons warn that a Brexit is likely to trigger an undesirable economic backlash and may even prompt Scottish nationalists of renewing their calls for another and fresh referendum on the issue of the independence of Scotland away from the UK.
