A KEIGHLEY company chief claims it will be "business as usual" for Britain if it opts to pull out of the European Union.

Tony Day, managing director of Marrose Abrasives, says suggestions that trade will suffer if the country breaks away are unfounded.

His 20-employee firm, based at North Beck Mills in Becks Road, exports 80 per cent of its products to every corner of the globe.

Last week, Keighley MP Kris Hopkins – who is pro-EU – said leaving the Union would be akin to "pulling up the drawbridge".

But Mr Day refutes the claim.

"It would not be in the interests of the EU to pull-up the drawbridge to UK exports or impose tariffs," he said.

"Brexit is not about pulling up any drawbridge and the suggestion is a gross misrepresentation of what would actually happen and is deeply insulting to millions of people like myself in the United Kingdom who have considered our relationship with the EU very carefully.

"In reality, the sherpas that David Cameron had in Brussels in the last six months would in the case of Brexit actually be able to negotiate from a position of strength.

"People should not believe that any malevolence towards the UK would be anything but short lived.

"When it comes down to exports, the Germans and French at least will continue business as usual.

"The EU has a great deal of inertia and is going in the wrong direction.

"Just like David Cameron, I want the best for our United Kingdom, but for the 'remain' campaign to use fear as a tool is quite disgraceful."

Mr Day, who chairs a liaison working group for the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives, also condemns as "scaremongering" suggestions that Britain's security could be more at risk due to less co-operation with European neighbours.

"We co-operated with our 'EU partners' before joining the Common Market and this would continue afterwards," he said.

"Are you seriously telling me that if we asked the head of Europol to give us information on – for example – suspected terrorists at loose in the EU, he would refuse?"

He likens the current relationship between Britain and the EU to a failing marriage and says the country should opt for a clean break in the June 23 referendum.

"We are not keeping it together 'for the sake of the children' and our responsibility is to our own citizens first and foremost," added Mr Day.

"It is time to send the marriage guidance counsellors away and move on."

* Do you feel that leaving the EU would affect your business? Are you in favour of or against continued membership? E-mail your comments to alistair.shand@keighleynews.co.uk.