Britain and the EU: In or Out?

UK business cautious

By Brian Groom, Alison Smith and FT Reporters

This article was first published on January 17 2013

Business leaders reacted warily to David Cameron’s EU referendum strategy, with some warning it would create economic uncertainty but others giving him the benefit of the doubt or welcoming the chance to renegotiate terms.

Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising group WPP, criticised the move as a political decision that “added another reason why people will postpone investment decisions”.

But Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, the drinks maker, said the prime minister was “right to seek a new settlement to take account of the different needs of the eurozone and of those countries, like the UK, which will be in ...