Former M&S boss insists Britain must remain part of EU

The former boss of Marks & Spencer has claimed remaining in the European Union can be the “patriotic course for Britain”.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, Lord Rose warned leaving the bloc was "not worth the risk", adding Britain was “surely bigger than walking away”.

Rose, who was elected chairman of the pro-EU campaign on Friday, dismissed the idea Britain should leave the EU on patriotic grounds.

"To claim that the patriotic course for Britain is to retreat, withdraw and become inward-looking is to misunderstand who we are as a nation," he said.

"I will not allow anyone to tell me I'm any less British because I believe in the strongest possible Britain for business, for our security and our society."

The campaign, which also includes former chief of the general staff Sir Peter Wall, West Ham United vice-chairwoman Baroness Brady and television presenter June Sarpong, faces strong opposition from a number of Eurosceptic groups.

BT chairman Sir Mike Rake said that in the lead up to the referendum on EU membership, which is expected to be held before the end of 2017, the pro-EU campaign would not try “to scare people” but had a "duty, an obligation and a right" to highlight the benefits of remaining in the union.

Citing estimates from the Confederation of British Industry, Lord Rose said membership to the EU was worth approximately £3,000 per year to every UK household.

"When you consider that our annual contribution is equivalent to £340 per household, our contribution to the EU is an investment on which British families get a 10-to-one return," he said.