250 UK business leaders back Brexit

Former HSBC Holdings chief executive Michael Geoghegan is among 250 business leaders backing the push for the UK to leave the European Union.

Geoghegan was chief executive of HSBC from 2006 until 2010 and his support for Brexit is in contrast to the bank’s current management. It warns it will send 1,000 staff to Paris from London if voters side with withdrawal in the June 23 referendum.

“With our growing list of business supporters, Vote Leave will make that case that whilst the EU may be good for big multinationals, for smaller businesses it acts as a job-destruction regulatory machine,” said Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the group.