'EU membership makes every Briton £450 a year better off'

  • Politics
Former M&S boss Lord Rose will chair the 'In' campaign. Credit: PA

Britons are £450 a year better off each as a result of the country being a member of the EU, Lord Rose is expected to claim later today.

According to The Times(£) the former M&S boss, who has been chosen to head up the cross-party Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, will highlight the financial benefit the public gets from being an EU member as part of his speech to launch the “in” campaign.

Rose is also expected to brand Eurosceptics pushing to leave as “quitters” who are “running away” from attempts to achieve positive reform of the EU.

The 'In' campaigners will argue an exit from the EU would be a 'leap in the dark'. Credit: Reuters

The campaign to keep Britain in the EU will formally launch today under the leadership of Lord Rose.

He will unveil his top team, which has the backing of three former prime ministers; Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Campaigning under the banner "Britain Stronger in Europe", the panel is expected to include businesswoman Karren Brady and TV presenter June Sarpong.

Former chief of the general staff Sir Peter Wall, artistic director of London's Southbank Centre Jude Kelly, former TUC general secretary Brendan Barber and Liverpool University vice-chancellor Janet Beer are expected to be named.

Longstanding Europhile politicians such as Lord Mandelson, Sir Danny Alexander, Damian Green, and Green MP Caroline Lucas will also join.

Baroness Brady at the Conservative Party Conference earlier this month Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Baroness (Karren) Brady, the West Ham United vice-chairwoman and Apprentice star, will have a central role, alongside Richard Reed, the co-founder of Innocent drinks.

While ITV's Loose Women presenter Sarpong has been drafted in to appeal to younger voters.

TV presenter June Sarpong has been drafted in to appeal to younger voters. Credit: PA

Lord Rose is expected to say that leaving the EU would be a "leap in the dark" and cost every household £3,000 a year.

He will dismiss the idea that there is a "patriotic" case for withdrawing from the EU and brand those wanting to leave "quitters".

David Cameron has promised to hold the decisive vote by the end of 2017 - but some have suggested it could happen as early as next spring.