We'd be far better off out of the EU, says founder of Wrightbus

Ballymena entrepreneur William Wright, whose buses are now sold around the world, said that EU bureaucracy was stifling UK businesses.

Mr Wright, a long-standing member of the Orange Order and who last year signed DUP MP Ian Paisley’s nomination papers, told the Ballymena Guardian: “I am totally in favour of getting out. It is time to take back control of our own affairs.

“The bureaucracy of Europe is not conducive to the UK’s business interests. I am firmly in the ‘leave’ camp.”

The senior business figure’s support strengthens the ‘Out’ campaign in Northern Ireland after a series of major business people have called for the UK to remain within the EU.

The chief executives of other major employers such as Norbrook and Moy Park have spoken out in support of an ‘In’ vote. Last week, Norbrook chief executive Liam Nagle said: “It is very clear it is in Norbrook’s interest for the United Kingdom to remain part of the European Union.”

But, speaking about Wrightbus, Mr Wright highlighted that despite the company’s success in selling its innovative vehicles around the world it has only exported six buses to mainland Europe.

He said: “If the UK can regain control of its own affairs, instead of being tied up in European bureaucracy, we can strike our own trade agreements with other countries.”

And, dismissing suggestions from some pro-EU campaigners that farming could be left in crisis if the UK leaves the EU and farmers lose EU subsidies, Mr Wright said that farmers would have to be compensated by the Government.

He added: “I simply don’t accept the suggestion that other nations would stop trading with us. They will continue to want our custom – you can be sure of that.”

Last week, Wrightbus announced a new £62 million order for 195 of its Routemaster buses for London.

The Treasury estimates that 50,000 jobs in Northern Ireland “could be linked to trade with the rest of the EU”.