Even some of David Cameron’s own business advisers refused to sign the letter

The majority of Britain’s biggest companies have refused to sign a letter backing membership of the European Union.

High street shops including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Next and banks such as Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland did not put their names to the letter published today.

It had been suggested that bosses of 80 of the FTSE 100 firms would sign the pro-Brussels letter, but in fact only 36 have done so.

Those who signed include multi-national corporations such as HSBC, BAE Systems, BT, Royal Dutch Shell, Rio Tinto and BP, and the chief executives of Heathrow and Gatwick.

Even some of David Cameron’s own business advisers refused to sign the letter to The Times which claims that quitting the Brussels club ‘would put the economy at risk’.

Yesterday Mr Cameron angrily defended Downing Street’s involvement in orchestrating the pro-EU letter after it emerged that it was drafted by a civil servant.

The Prime Minister has been trying to rally support from major businesses to endorse his deal to keep Britain in the EU ahead of the referendum on June 23.

But several of them have backed people power to decide for the nation.

Others that refused to sign the letter include Primark owner Associated British Foods, insurer Legal & General and investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, whose founder Peter Hargreaves is a loyal Thatcherite.

It is thought an eight-sentence template letter was sent to firms at the weekend by Downing Street adviser Chris Hopkins.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries challenged Mr Cameron over the use of the government machine to take sides in the debate, and questioned Mr Hopkins’s involvement.

She said: ‘Chris Hopkins is apparently a civil servant. Which department does he work for?

'And what authority does he have as a civil servant to campaign for the Remain lobby?’

Mr Cameron said he had asked Mr Hopkins to orchestrate the letter, adding: ‘Chris Hopkins is a civil servant working in Number 10 and his authority comes from me – and he’s doing an excellent job.

‘This is not a free-for-all – the Government has a clear view, and the Government’s view is that we should remain in a reformed EU and the Civil Service is able to support the Government in that role.

‘Of course MPs, ministers, Cabinet ministers are able to make their own decision, but the Government is not holding back on this – we have a full-throated view that we will put in front of the people so they can make their own choice.’

COLLAPSE OF EU'S PASSPORT-FREE TRAVEL ZONE 'WOULD COST US £68BN' A collapse of the EU’s passport-free travel zone would cost the UK economy at least £67.9billion over the next decade, a report last night revealed. Although Britain is not one of the 26 countries in the so-called Schengen area, researchers warned that an end of the agreement would make it more expensive to import and export goods. Longer delays at borders would force up warehouse storage and staffing costs for companies as delivery times could no longer be guaranteed, said the study on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation. With import prices rising by just 1 per cent, the study showed that the end of Schengen would cost the EU roughly £366billion over the next decade. Aart De Geus, of the Bertelsmann Foundation, said it would ‘put even more pressure on Europe’s already weak growth’. It comes as it emerged that Brussels has watered down a plan to check the name of every traveller coming into Europe against anti-terror watch lists. The European Commission has added a clause allowing countries to carry out just targeted checks if the new rules ‘could lead to a disproportionate impact on the flow of traffic at the border’. Advertisement

A draft of the letter emerged yesterday and claimed to be from businesses ‘representing every sector and region of the United Kingdom’ who employ hundreds of thousands of people.

It said: ‘Following the Prime Minister’s renegotiation, we believe that Britain is better off staying in a reformed European Union.

'He has secured a commitment from the EU to reduce the burden of regulation, deepen the single market and to sign off crucial international trade deals.

‘Businesses like ours need unrestricted access to the European market of 500 million people in order to continue to grow, invest and create jobs.

'We believe that leaving the EU would deter investment and threaten jobs. It would put the economy at risk.’

Yesterday Mr Cameron angrily defended Downing Street’s involvement in orchestrating the pro-EU letter after it emerged that it was drafted by a civil servant

The Prime Minister has been trying to rally support from major businesses to endorse his deal to keep Britain in the EU ahead of the referendum on June 23

Marc Bolland, the outgoing chief executive of Marks and Spencer, signed the letter, but the company insisted the Dutchman took part in a ‘personal capacity’ and added: ‘We believe it is a decision for the people of Britain to make.’

Several members of the Prime Minister’s business advisory group did not sign the letter, including Alison Brittain, chief executive of Whitbread, Jeff Fairburn of housebuilder Persimmon, and Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal and General.

A Tesco spokesman said: ‘The referendum on EU membership is a decision for the people of Britain. Whatever that decision is, our focus will continue to be on serving customers.’

UNITED KINGDOM WILL PAY EUROPE'S TOP MINIMUM WAGE BY 2020 British workers can expect to have the highest minimum wage of any country in Europe by the time of the next election. Figures released yesterday show the rate laid down by David Cameron’s Government has overtaken the lowest levels in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. By 2020, when Chancellor George Osborne has promised to enforce a ‘national living wage’ of at least £9 an hour, Britain should be on top of the pile. The generosity of the minimum wage, at a time when Mr Cameron has been trying to reduce benefits paid to EU workers, is seen as a pull factor in drawing new migrants. Analysis by the EU statistics arm, Eurostat, found that the UK minimum wage is more than three and a half times the level paid in Poland; six times that paid in Romania; and seven times the minimum wage in Bulgaria. The figures, based on a calculation of what a worker earns in a month, said that in January the UK minimum wage was worth 1,529 euros. This was less only than the level paid in Luxembourg (1,922 euros a month) and Ireland (1,546 euros). The £9-an-hour living wage that Mr Osborne wants to bring in by 2020 would amount to 2,049 euros a month. Advertisement

A Sainsbury’s spokesman added: ‘Sainsbury’s is an apolitical organisation and the EU referendum is a matter for the British people.’

Lloyds said: ‘Following the recent announcement on the EU referendum, the group will consider any implications for our organisation, our shareholders and our customers at a subsequent board meeting. This is, though, ultimately a matter for the British people.’

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave group, said: ‘Panic seems to be spreading in Number 10 as support for David Cameron’s deal plummets. There is very little reform on the table.

'The only way to take back control of our economy to help British businesses to flourish is to Vote Leave.’

How will your MP vote? Full list of all the Conservative politicians who have declared their stand on the EU referendum debate