Dr. Phil Syrpis, Expert Panellist for Institute of Directors EU Debate

At a previous debate, Dr. Phil Syrpis hosted a panel of political hard hitters, including writer Will Hutton and South West Green Party MEP Molly Scott-Cato, held at the University of Bristol last month. The other panellists were Labour MP Graham Stringer and Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan.

Press release issued: 11 May 2016

Last month the Institute of Directors (IoD) launched an EU Referendum Roadshow, a series of debates to urge all businesses to consider the implications of the upcoming referendum. On Wednesday 4 May, Dr Phil Syrpis was an expert panellist at the South West debate.

In the region of 40 business leaders attended the event which was opened by the University of Bristol's Nick Sturge, the Business Incubator Manager at RED (Research and Enterprise Development).

The main presentation was given by Allie Renison, the IoD's Europe and Trade Policy Lead, with Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and businessman Simon Boyd making the case for Leave; and Dr. Syrpis joining businessman Richard Staite in making the case for Remain.

The debate was wide-ranging, with a focus on the implications for business. Worries were expressed about the way in which EU rules are (and are not) enforced; and there was a lively exchange of views on the implications of a vote for leave for the UK's trading relationship with both the EU and the wider world.

An IoD survey indicates that IoD members are 2:1 in favour of Remain; and that seemed to be a fairly accurate reflection of the opinion in the Hall.

The debate was chaired by Simon Walker, the IoD's Director General, and held at the University of the West of England.

Dr. Philip Syrpis recently chaired a panel of political hardhitters for the first in a series of University of Bristol EU debates "The West Decides" .

Further information

In a recent blog from Dr. Phil Syrpis discussed the legal status of the agreement of Heads of State and Governments regarding Brexit

Coinciding with the South West debate, the IoD published a message from the Lady Barbara Judge and Simon Walker, IoD "We need to talk about the EU"