UK businesses don’t care what celebrities think about Brexit

Small business owners aren’t interested in politicians or personalities coming out in support of the Stonger In or Vote Leave campaigns for the upcoming EU referendum, a report by Sage has revealed.

The survey of UK small enterprise owners revealed that 56% will base their decision on facts while a surprising number (17%) said they will place their vote based on gut instinct alone, while less than 1% said the views of celebrities and politicians will influence their decision.

The research highlighted a clear desire from business owners and entrepreneurs to have as much information as possible to inform their vote yet 48% of small business owners revealed that they still do not feel well enough informed to make a decision in the referendum.

Earlier this month, Startups.co.uk revealed its survey of nearly 1,500 readers and found that 55% of the country’s start-ups intend to vote for the UK to stay in the EU.

Brendan Flattery, president of Sage Europe, said:

“Barely a day goes by that there’s not another surreal, sensationalist claim in the media: from claims of a world economic slowdown if we leave, to Britain becoming a ‘hostage’ to the EU if we stay, a potential European war, or to Europe being on the same ‘doomed’ path as Hitler.

“As this survey demonstrates, small and medium businesses, which make up more than two-thirds of new jobs and generate more than €3.7 trillion across Europe – are hungry for the real facts. We need a balanced argument on both sides rather than continuing on with ridiculous assertions from big personalities.”