Business Support For UK In EU Falling - Survey

Support for Britain's continued membership of the European Union among financial leaders at UK companies has fallen in the past six months, a new survey suggests.

But it also indicated many are awaiting the outcome of David Cameron's renegotiations before making up their minds.

A Deloitte poll of 137 chief financial officers, including 24 from FTSE 100 companies, revealed "unqualified" EU support has fallen from 74% to 62%.

However, just 6% of those questioned believe that British businesses would benefit from leaving the union.

David Sproul, chief executive of Deloitte, said: "With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) around one third of CFOs undecided on their position or awaiting the outcome of renegotiation discussions, the eventual deal may well significantly affect business attitudes to EU membership."

Meanwhile, not one of more than 100 prominent economists surveyed by the Financial Times believed that a "Brexit" would give the country's financial prospects a boost in the coming year.

The newspaper's poll also found that three-quarters of economists fear the UK economy will be in worse shape in the medium-term following a British departure from the European Union.

Only 8% of those questioned thought prospects would be better over a similar timeframe.

Adam Posen, the president of the Institute for International Economics, said a vote to leave the EU "changes my views about 2015 and the medium-term drastically for the worse".

He warned the newspaper: "Business investment will dry up."

On Friday, Sky (LSE: BSY.L - news) 's City Editor Mark Kleinman reported that Jeremy Browne, the City of London Corporation's special representative to the EU, is set to embark on a whistle-stop tour aimed at persuading EU governments to "admire and value" the City.

He plans to visit all 27 EU member states outside the UK amid growing expectations that Britain's in-out referendum on EU membership could be held as early as June.