GETTY More than 100 CEOs from leading financial firms backed the campaign for Britain to quit the EU

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Senior City figures including prominent hedge fund bosses signed an open letter calling for a “leave” vote in the in-or-out EU referendum on June 23. The move was being seen as another major boost to the “leave” campaign last night and fresh proof that many investors believe an EU exit could boost the British economy. Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave campaign group, said: “Far from the picture of doom and gloom painted by the Government, it is clear that the City of London would not only retain its pre-eminence as the world’s most important financial centre, but would also thrive after freeing herself from the EU’s regulatory shackles.”

The City of London can thrive and grow outside the European Union Open letter

The list of signatories included Crispin Odey, a founding partner at Odey Asset Management, and Paul Marshall, chairman of Marshall Wace, Peter Hargreaves, a founder of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown and Michael Geoghegan, a former CEO of bank HSBC. Other signatories included Dominic Burke, group chief executive at Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Peter Cruddas, chief executive at CMC Markets, and Luke Johnson, founder of Risk Capital Partners Their letter said: “We write - in our personal capacities - as individuals active in the City of London and UK financial services who share a strong personal commitment to the world’s most vibrant financial centre, and a material interest in its future success.

GETTY The CEOs believe the City of London would thrive outside the EU

“We firmly believe that it can thrive and grow outside the European Union. “As we contemplate the upcoming referendum on UK membership of the EU, we remember that the EU had honourable origins - to heal the wounds of post war Europe, to enable free trade to return the Continent to prosperity. In 1975 there were persuasive reasons for the United Kingdom to join the European Economic Community, and we believe membership was for many years a positive for the UK and the City. “However, we do not believe that the same case can be made for continued membership in 2016. “The EU is now shackled to the euro, a project doing damage to the social and economic fabric of member countries, including high youth unemployment.

“Many of us worry that the euro zone’s problems may prove insurmountable. “Meanwhile there is scant evidence that the EU will foster or support the kind of innovation which is essential if Europeans are to compete with the rest of the world. “Specifically, we worry that the EU’s approach to regulation now poses a genuine threat to our financial services industry and to the competitiveness of the City of London.

GETTY Paul Marshall has signed the open letter backing the Leave campaign

“Assuming good political leadership and an effective regulatory environment, we believe that the City is most likely to strengthen its lead as the world’s largest international financial centre, and continue to make a major contribution to the UK economy and employment, outside the EU but with continued access to its capital markets. “We will therefore be supporting the Vote Leave campaign and encouraging others to join us.”

EU referendum Sat, February 20, 2016 With an in/out referendum on EU membership set for June 23 this year, we're taking an overview look of David Cameron's two-day visit at EU summit at EU headquarters in Brussels and his return to Downing Street to meet with his cabinet. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 21 British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at Downing Street

• A vote to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum could cost each Briton around £45,000, or around half the value of the United Kingdom’s housing stock, JPMorgan Chase & Co said in a research report yesterday. Using the Treasury’s central estimate that UK gross domestic product would be 6.2 per cent lower by 2030 after a Brexit than it would be if Britain stayed in the EU, JPMorgan said the impact on British wealth could be huge.

GETTY 'The EU is now shackled to the euro' the letter reads