Nick Clegg warning of jobs disaster if UK leaves the EU
In Nottingham Post
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats
THE Deputy Prime Minister claimed hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost in the East Midlands if Britain pulls out of the EU when he visited a Notts firm.
Nick Clegg toured Autofil Worldwide in Sherwood Park, Annesley - a company which exports 95 per cent of its coloured polyester yarn to Europe.
The leader of the Liberal Democrat Party attacked UKIP and some quarters of the Conservative Party for their "increasing extremism" on the issue.
He spoke about the benefits that membership of the European Union affords companies like Autofil, which employs 200 people locally and has a number of sales and technical staff throughout Europe.
Mr Clegg said: "The basic idea that we should be part of the world's largest borderless single market seems to me to be a positive one for the 200 workers that work here.
"Pretty much all - well 95 per cent - of what they produce here goes to the European Union.
"And, as we heard from the boss of Nissan, if you simply put up the drawbridge and if you do what UKIP and what large parts of the Conservative Party want and yank us out of Europe all together, hundreds of thousands of jobs in this region and millions of jobs across the country will be lost."
Asked if he felt there was a realistic chance the UK could pull out of Europe, Mr Clegg said: "If you look at the increasing extremism of UKIP and large parts of the Conservative Party and you take them at their word, they think that it might be better to leave the European Union all together.
"I lead a party which is now the only party for 'in' in British politics.
"Yes, have a referendum when the time is right, but absolutely no to leaving. Yes to being in."
Autofil has an annual turnover of £35 million and is one of Europe's largest suppliers of coloured polyester yarn.
It is used in the manufacture of interior textiles for cars, heavy goods vehicles and public transportation.
Through its parent company, Italian firm Sinterama, the group has a global presence and supplies to international customers.
The group has manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Mexico, Turkey and China.
Managing director Anthony Ullmann said: "What's really important for a business like ours is to have a politician who really understands what Europe is all about.
"This is a politician who understands the importance of the European market.
"Membership of the EU is vital; 95 per cent of all of our products are sold in the single market."
Reflecting on the possibility that the UK could leave the EU, Mr Ullmann added: "I fear it would have a disastrous effect on business and give our competitors in Spain and Germany an unfair advantage and in the end, affect jobs."
The visit coincided with the launch of the UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) Export Week, which starts today.
It aims to get businesses to either start exporting or to expand their export activity.
A series of events are being staged across Notts throughout this week in a bid to encourage more firms to export goods abroad.
For further details call the East Midlands trade team on 0845 0524001.