Rotherham firms "need to know the facts on EU membership"

A sizeable number of firms are still undecided ahead of the in or out EU referendum later this year.

Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said that, while the organisation is staying strictly impartial on the issue, it is keen to give employers in the district the facts for and against EU membership so they can make up their own minds.

Mr Denniff said that all opinions on the issue are important and that people are being confused by bickering politicians and contradictory arguments.

He said: “Some of the figures we have got probably show around six out of ten businesses are for staying in.

“Three out of ten probably would come out and about ten per cent are undecided.

“I think that most of the businesses we deal with in Barnsley and Rotherham and probably across the wider City Region would probably be about 60 to 40 to stay in.”

Mr Denniff was critical of the information people have been getting from the media.

He said: “Right from the top there have been mixed messages.

“I think our role at the chamber is to do what we can to put as many of the facts out there without trying to put a spin on it.

“What we are trying to do is look at it from an economic perspective.”

Mr Denniff said he accepted that many people seem keen to pull out of the EU and said it would be interesting to see the effect of the elections in May on public opinion.

He said: “It’s a big decision. I think people will make their own choice.”

Mr Denniff said it is easier to assess what would happen if Britain remained in the EU than know the ramifications of pulling out which he said would be “a leap into the unknown”.

He said a lot of funding coming into the area either comes from Brussels or is influenced by the EU and this might be impacted by a vote to leave.

Mr Denniff said: “What we do know is how Rotherham might fare if we voted to stay in.”

He added: “We need to open this debate as widely as possible.”

Voters will go to the polls for the European Union referendum on Thursday, June 23.