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IoD Chief Calls For Early EU Referendum

IoD Chief Calls For Early EU Referendum

The head of one of Britain's most influential business groups will urge David Cameron on Friday to hold the referendum on the UK's European Union (EU) membership next year and avoid an "inappropriate" delay.

Sky News understands that Simon Walker, director-general of the Institute of Directors (IoD), will say on Friday that a confluence of political events in 2017, including elections in France and Germany, mean that a UK-wide poll must happen sooner.

The fact that Britain is due to hold the presidency of the EU during the second half of 2017 would make it "absurd" to simultaneously be conducting a referendum, Mr Walker will say.

His comments will be the first made by a senior IoD figure about the timing of the vote, and will come amid mounting speculation that Mr Cameron will announce later this year that the referendum is being planned for June 2016.

To date, the Prime Minister's only firm commitment is that it will be held before the end of 2017.

Mr Walker will argue on Friday that the campaign to remain within a reformed EU will be undermined by delaying the poll because of the Government's aim of achieving a budget surplus by 2020.

"It is almost inevitable that the more time passes before a referendum takes place, the more of [Mr] Cameron’s political capital will be gobbled up.

"The referendum will then become a poll on what the public thinks of the party in power, not a verdict on the positives and negatives of being part of the EU," Mr Walker will say.

The IoD chief will insist that his group will not instruct its members how to vote despite its own view that membership of a reformed EU would benefit the UK.

"Our members will make up their own minds based on the deal they are offered, as indeed will the British public.

"But crucially, we think that decision should be made based on the question that is being asked, rather than on general attitudes to the government at that point in the electoral cycle."