UK bosses wary of closer European integration - poll

Business leaders in the UK are sceptical about closer European integration and opposed to the proposed EU constitution and British entry into the euro, according to a poll.

The ICM survey of 1,000 chief executives for the eurosceptic New Frontiers thinktank found a large majority opposed to the constitution, with 59% saying it would not make Brussels work better compared to 18% who thought it would.

British companies which trade a lot with Europe were no more enthusiastic about the constitution – 51% were opposed to the new treaty while 30% were in favour.

Meanwhile, 73% of the business leaders questioned said they would vote against the euro if there was a referendum now.

Even among large firms, generally thought to be supportive of British involvement in the single currency, 52% of bosses agreed that the UK should keep the pound.

A large majority of respondents (82%) believed Britain, not the EU, should handle trade negotiations, rejecting oft-cited arguments that the UK has more clout when acting as part of a larger trading bloc.