“I am personally hugely disappointed at the thought of the UK exiting the EU,” says John Atherton, Principal of Edmund Bell, Rochdale, UK drapery linings and blackout specialist. “What is particularly disappointing is that certain politicans (Boris Johnson) have bread such mistrust that it makes the process almost a nonsense, based on U turns and in accurate unjustified arguments that have been exasperated by irresponsible media to allow such propaganda to gain any traction. They have misled the British public and caused the resignation of one of the most credible British Prime Ministers since Churchill and Thatcher, then abandoned the troops at the height of the battle creating a constitutional crisis! “This currently is not an economic crisis, but currently and disappointingly a political crisis. I hope and pray that it rights itself and we can get to business as normal. Until this is resolved the lack of clarity will result in a lack of economic confidence that will stall the progress of the UK economy. The longer this is drawn out the greater the negative effect.” “However what I will say is, it still needs to go through the UK Parliament and there is no certainty that it will not be voted to remain in the EU. There was no huge majority for us to exit,  and it now is becoming evident to those who voted out, that the people they entrusted their votes to, have proven to be completely lacking in any integrity. My bet is that if a second referendum was to be allowed there would be an overwhelming majority for us to stay in the EU.” “As far as Edmund Bell is concerned, a business that has been in existence for over 160 years operating on a global platform and is well placed with business not reliant on any one market and as such is naturally hedged.” “We are continuing to invest heavily to continue the heritage of my Family. We were privileged to purchase Edmund Bell back in 2008, just before the last economic crash the world suffered and is only just recovering from! We are positive about the future  and unlike our Prime Minister and England football Manager, we don’t intend to resign. My motto has always been ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’. We are not in a position to walk away from our business heritage!” (Atherton’s letter was written in late June)