The mayor joins British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) John Longworth, who made his thoughts know during the BCC’s annual conference also attended by prime minister David Cameron, in urging the next government to bring a referendum forward.
Cameron has previously made a pledge to hold a vote on the issue in 2017, which would make it two years into a possible next Conservative government term. However, continued debate on membership in the run up to the general election, combined with ongoing economic uncertainty in the euro zone, has led to an increase in pressure. Speaking on radio station LBC, Johnson sided with Longworth and said it was not a bad idea. “Let’s get it done and knock it on the head and do it for the good of Europe,” he added. “The problem is not going away. The whole euro zone is mired in low growth, low productivity, they have a very anti-competitive environment there, a terrible system of regulation coming from Brussels.” Johnson’s time as London mayor will be coming to an end in 2016, having been in the job since May 2008. In September 2014 it was revealed that he would be standing as member of parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, a traditional Conservative stronghold. If he is successful in his bid to rejoin the House of Commons, he will still remain London mayor until the 2016 election. Questioned on LBC, Johnson revealed that he believes UK voters will opt to stay in a “reformed” Europe. Read more about Boris Johnson:- A look at Boris Johnson’s record as London mayor
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