Welby, Cleese and Dyson – the latest famous faces to take a side on Europe
An Archbishop, a former Python and a top entrepreneur – these are the latest famous faces to align themselves with a side in the EU referendum campaigning over the weekend.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has revealed he will be voting to stay in Europe in the referendum which is now less than two weeks away.
"We each have to make up our own minds. But for my part, based on what I have said and on what I have experienced I shall vote to remain," he said, writing for the Mail on Sunday.
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"I hope and pray that the result will be reached with the aim of a good Britain in a good Europe, whether as part of the EU or not. I pray that each person’s vote will be based on generosity, hope, confidence."
My prayer is that we decide the #EUref with a sense of generosity and vision of what Britain can be in the world.https://t.co/J2utoE8jdV
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) June 12, 2016
Actor and former Monty Python star John Cleese has also tweeted his stance on the matter, and wants to leave the union.
"If I thought there was any chance of major reform in the EU, I'd vote to stay in. But there isn't. Sad. Sorry, Paddy," he said, referring to Lib Dem Lord Ashdown who is campaigning for Remain.
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The comedy star called on the EU to ditch the Euro and for the president of the European Commission to be hanged.
I rather thought that plan had failed. I'll call Jean-Claude Juncker and ask if this was why he was threatening us https://t.co/HcKG14ndEs
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) June 11, 2016
It should give up the Euro, introduce accountability,and hang Jean-Claude Juncker https://t.co/JtN3VwKPRi
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) June 11, 2016
There's been trading for millennia. I can't see that stopping.And don't we buy more from the EU than they do from us https://t.co/chzz7eu0aD
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) June 11, 2016
Billionaire entrepreneur James Dyson yesterday put his voice behind the calls for Britain to leave the EU, rubbishing claims that leaving would damage trade.
"When the Remain campaign tells us no one will trade with us if we leave the EU, sorry, it’s absolute cobblers," he said, speaking to the Telegraph. "Our trade imbalance with Europe is running at nine billion a month and rising. If this trend continues, that is £100bn a year.
"If, as David Cameron suggested, they imposed a tariff of 10 per cent on us, we will do the same in return. We buy more from Europe than they buy from us, so we would be the net beneficiary and based on these numbers it would bring £10bn into the UK annually. Added to our net EU contribution, it would make us around £18.5bn better off each year if we left the EU."
The trio follow former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and web inventor Tim Berners-Lee who last week threw their hat in with support for Remain.
Check out City A.M.'s comprehensive interactive of who's who and on which side of the referendum debate.