BUSINESSES’ trade links will not be affected in a Brexit, a manufacturing boss has claimed.

John Elliott, Ebac founder and chairman, says fears are being unnecessarily stoked up about British companies’ ability to succeed outside the EU.

Mr Elliott said firms will continue buying UK goods regardless of Britain’s position with the EU, adding potential issues with tariffs can be overcome.

However, former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling said a decision to leave the EU would put thousands of jobs at risk and cause great business uncertainty, warning voters any Brexit would be final.

But Mr Elliott, who is leading Ebac’s £7m venture into the washing machine market, said Britain can go it alone, downplaying claims from economists and Remain campaigners a departure would be damaging for the UK’s economy.

He told The Northern Echo: “Everyone knows the EU is not very good.

“I’ve never heard anyone say ‘isn’t it a good organisation, aren’t we lucky to be in there?’

“They say it’s bad, but we can reform it. How long have I heard that?

“There’s only one objective of the EU and that’s to become a super state.

“In 2008 we had a recession, that wasn’t an accident, it wasn’t caused by the weather.

“All these experts that think we should stop in are the people who mis-managed the economy in 2008 and are still managing the economy badly.”

Mr Elliott also reiterated his claim companies can survive and indeed flourish without the shackles of the EU, saying UK products will remain in demand.

He also rejected assertions from Prime Minister David Cameron that British firms would struggle with higher tariffs for being outside the EU.

He added: “We sell to customers not countries, and the Channel Tunnel will not close on June 24, we will trade as normal.

“Tariffs are not a deal-breaker.

“We trade with French companies, they buy our goods because they are good and they want to buy them; they’ll keep buying them.

“We’ve got to say to the French, ‘do you want to sell us red wine or should we buy it from South Africa or New Zealand?’

“We can continue as it is and in the meantime we will be free to set up other agreements with people.

“It might take a long time, but this is a long-term decision.”

However, Mr Darling, who is leading calls for Britain to remain in the EU, said the claims were fanciful.

Referring to a visit he undertook at trainbuilder Hitachi Rail Europe’s plant in Kent, a sister site of the Japanese company’s base in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, Mr Darling said foreign investors will think twice if the UK leaves the EU.

He also said campaigners behind a leave vote don’t have a blueprint for securing trade deals outside the EU.

He told The Northern Echo: “The risk is that around 100,000 jobs are dependent on exports to the EU from the North-East.

“If we are to make the Northern Powerhouse a reality, rather than rhetoric, it is by far better that the UK stays in the EU.

“If we leave that is it; there’s no going back with your tail between your legs saying we are terribly sorry, we made a mistake.

“This is not like a General Election.

“At a time when the economy is still pretty fragile, the last thing we want is uncertainty.

“It is one thing tearing up an agreement if you have a better one, but it’s something else when you do that and don’t have one to go to.”