Redwood: Businesses will be punished if they voice support for EU

Straight out of the SNP playbook :

John Redwood has vowed to punish businesses who speak out in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union.

Mr Redwood, one the most senior Tory Eurosceptics, said companies who did not stay silent on the country's EU membership would pay a "very dear economic and financial price".

[Stop It]

Wow, agree with the EU or not, that is possibly the worst thing I have heard an MP say for years on the subject. Farage will be proud.

Linky: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...n-Redwood.html

Also quoted: "Chief executives who decide to take a corporate position on the issue could lose their jobs while those campaigning against membership would ensure there were financial consequences, Mr Redwood warned"

You know what Mr Redwood, your party didn't exactly mind when business leaders came out in the Scottish referendum on the no side, so trying to tell the same business leaders not to "meddle" in politics is frankly astonishing.

Of course not exactly unexpected for a politician, of any colour to be a complete hypocrite :/

[BenMcr]

Just shows that the sheen put the Conservatives tried to put on before the last election has well and truly worn off.

They'll be changing their logo back next.

opps sorry! forgot the link. Cheers Stop It.

[Stop It]

No problem.

Still trying to work out how these "punishments" will be meted out. I don't think Cameron will be with you on this Mr Redwood. Opinions Mr Redwood, how do they work. Instead of trying to stifle debate, how about just showing the business leaders why they are wrong, rather than using threats.

What an arse!

He never got over being the darling of the Right-wing Tories and being dumped on his behind in the 97 election.

Originally Posted by Damien

Straight out of the SNP playbook :

Jings and crivvens.

We've just suffered 2 years of this sort of behaviour from the SNP in Scotland, the last thing we want is another 2 years of the same over the EU.

[nomadking]

If people read the article and NOT JUST THE HEADLINE, they would see that he ACTUALLY said that they shouldn't express an opinion and was NOT based upon which side they took.

The former Welsh secretary demanded firms "keep out" of the debate and "beware" not to "meddle in politics".

Mr Redwood told a fringe event about Britain's place in the EU that "the only answer for all concerned is for big business to keep out and not express a corporate view".

...
"This is absolutely crucial that these people get this. That it will be deeply disruptive to their businesses, and maybe even to their own tenure of their jobs, if a chief executive with a handful of shares thinks he can put the voice of a multi-national corporation behind a highly intense political argument in one country in which they operate.

Originally Posted by nomadking

If people read the article and NOT JUST THE HEADLINE, they would see that he ACTUALLY said that they shouldn't express an opinion and was NOT based upon which side they took.

Err, no, that's pretty much the nature of the intimidation the SNP meted out against big business. Eurosceptic Tories and SNP ministers alike, are well aware that multi-national businesses prefer things as they are, because it is a more predictable operating environment. In pressuring them not to speak out, they give the appearance of being even-handed, whilst knowing that what they're really doing is trying to silence what they understand is likely to be a majority of corporate voices backing a No vote.

Originally Posted by nomadking

If people read the article and NOT JUST THE HEADLINE, they would see that he ACTUALLY said that they shouldn't express an opinion and was NOT based upon which side they took.

errr..

He added: "If they don't understand that now they will find those of us organising the 'get out' campaign will then make life difficult for them by making sure that their customers, their employees and their shareholders who disagree with them - and there will be a lot who disagree with them - will be expressing their views very forcefully and will be destablising their corporate governance.

---------- Post added at 16:20 ---------- Previous post was at 16:19 ----------

Anyway Redwood is a moron but it will be interesting to see if Cameron slaps him down or not.

Does his ideas apply to those companies that have donated heavily to the Conservative Party I wonder?

[papa smurf]

put em up against the wall eu loving dogs

---------- Post added at 16:47 ---------- Previous post was at 16:46 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris

Jings and crivvens.

We've just suffered 2 years of this sort of behaviour from the SNP in Scotland, the last thing we want is another 2 years of the same over the EU.

sn who ?

[tweetiepooh]

I think he is saying that the executive shouldn't make comments as if speaking for his entire company or should be careful if he does. That Mr Redwood's "team" would ensure that those who oppose the exec's view are so enabled to do so. I guess that this would apply to those on any side not just the eurosceptics.

So it was OK for company's to speak out in support of the union but come EU debate they have to be quiet what a pathetic specimen redwood is. I'm in favour of leaving the EU but I want to have all opinions and facts available to me in the event I have missed something important that may change or enforce my belief. This country doesn't stand for this sort of garbage and he should get a swift kick wherever he shows his face

Originally Posted by Chris

Err, no, that's pretty much the nature of the intimidation the SNP meted out against big business. Eurosceptic Tories and SNP ministers alike, are well aware that multi-national businesses prefer things as they are, because it is a more predictable operating environment. In pressuring them not to speak out, they give the appearance of being even-handed, whilst knowing that what they're really doing is trying to silence what they understand is likely to be a majority of corporate voices backing a No vote.

Is that why he is babbling like a lunatic about the ERM and how that outstanding failure was all down to the advice from corporate advisers and not the fault of the government at all

---------- Post added at 18:29 ---------- Previous post was at 18:26 ----------

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

So it was OK for company's to speak out in support of the union but come EU debate they have to be quiet what a pathetic specimen redwood is. I'm in favour of leaving the EU but I want to have all opinions and facts available to me in the event I have missed something important that may change or enforce my belief. This country doesn't stand for this sort of garbage and he should get a swift kick wherever he shows his face

Quite right ,and the opinions of big business are paramount I would have thought as they are the ones who will have to trade outside of the EU and be expected to keep supplying jobs