LONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Britain's campaign to stay in theEU is ready to make a "patriotic case" that the country wassafer in Europe, it said on Sunday, bringing in leadingbusinessmen, politicians and television personalities to leadthe cause.
Called "Britain Stronger in Europe", the 'in campaign' willlaunch on Monday, keen to show it has broad appeal to fight forBritain's membership of the world's largest trading bloc beforea referendum which Prime Minister David Cameron said will beheld by the end of 2017.
Cameron conceded ground to vocal Eurosceptics in the rulingConservative Party by offering the referendum, hoping to bury anissue that divided the party for years and led to the downfallof two prime ministers.
A day after naming Conservative peer Stuart Rose, formerboss of the Marks and Spencer store chain, as its head,the campaign said on Sunday it would be backed by fellowConservative peer and television personality, Karren Brady, andformer Labour minister, Peter Mandelson, among others.
"With backgrounds in security, culture, business, the youthmovement, trade unions, academia, and politics, our board areready to make the case for why Britain is stronger, safer, andbetter off in Europe," Will Straw, executive director of BritainStronger in Europe, said in a statement.
"We chose the name Britain Stronger in Europe because in thecoming referendum we will make a positive and patriotic casethat it is in Britain's interest to remain part of Europe."
Cameron has pledged to renegotiate Britain's relationshipwith the EU to get "the best of both worlds" by asking forguarantees the country will be kept out of ever closer union andthat the euro is not the EU's official currency, therebyprotecting the pound in a multi-currency union.
He personally favours Britain staying in a reformed EU, buthas said he would not be heartbroken to leave.
Opinion polls are increasingly split over whether the publicwants to stay or not, with a migration crisis in Europe spurringfears about open borders with the 28-member bloc.
The main campaign to leave the European Union, called 'VoteLeave', launched on Thursday, drawing together politicians fromthe ruling Conservatives and opposition Labour party, andbusiness leaders such as billionaire hedge fund manager CrispinOdey.
But 'out' campaigners are split, with Vote Leave competingwith rival campaign, Leave.EU, backed by the Eurosceptic anti-EUUnited Kingdom Independence Party to unlock funding and campaignhelp by becoming the officially designated lobby group. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Susan Thomas)
Marks & Spencer (MKS)