Business leaders favour UK staying in reformed EU - poll

But the research by consultants Grant Thornton found that 90% of the 125 business leaders questioned believe that changes are needed in the UK’s relationship with Europe.

And just 29% said their support for UK membership was “unconditional”, with 58% saying Britain should stay in only if Mr Cameron’s renegotiation is successful.

Only 7% wanted Brexit regardless of the result of the Prime Minister’s reform push.

Priorities for change included cuts in Brussels red tape (84%); increased ability for national parliaments to block EU laws (80%); repatriation of powers to Westminster (74%); and restrictions on benefits for migrants moving within the EU (60%).

Fewer than half (47%) of those questioned were concerned about freeing Britain from the requirement for “ever-closer union”.

Just 6% of the mid-sized businesses questioned thought British withdrawal would boost their companies’ prospects for growth, against 24% who said it would harm growth and 58% who were “unsure”.

Grant Thornton, chief operating officer Robert Hannah, said: “Britain’s dynamic mid-sized businesses have long been the oft-overlooked bellwethers of commercial and economic shifts in the UK, given their prominence and contribution to oiling the wheels of our economy.

“The fact that they’re overwhelmingly in favour of Britain remaining in a reformed EU should give the Government added confidence in its negotiation of demands, as the PM seeks a deal with other EU heads of state.

“With the referendum debate set to heat up over the coming months, it would be remiss on either camp’s part to not pay attention to this vital voice.”

:: Some 125 chief executive officers, chief financial officers, managing directors, chairmen and other senior executives of mid-sized businesses from a variety of industry sectors were interviewed by telephone in November and December 2015.