Nine of Cameron’s 20 Economic Aids Abstain From Signing Anti-Brexit Letter

Nine of UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s 20-member Business Advisory Group did not sign a letter calling on voters to support the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union, local media reported Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Nine of the UK prime minister's top economic advisers, including Steve Varley, chairman of Ernst & Young and Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, did not sign a letter organized by the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign, The Telegraph reported.

While spokespersons for the advisers said they did not sign the letter because they lacked an official stance on the issue in their companies, Brexit backers concluded that Cameron’s own advisers believe that leaving the European Union would have a positive effect on the British economy.

The letter in favor of the United Kingdom staying in the European Union published in The Times on Wednesday was signed by 1,285 business leaders.

On Thursday, the UK public will vote in a referendum on whether their country should stay in or leave the European Union. The referendum was scheduled after UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the 27 other EU member states agreed in February to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc.

Brexit supporters argue that EU membership has eroded the country’s independence to legislate, direct its economy and control its borders. Opponents warn that leaving the European Union could deeply harm the UK economy.