THE boss of Tenbury’s biggest employer has said that the decision to leave the EU is damaging his business and is a potential ‘disaster.’

Mike Forrester, chairman, and founder of Orchard Valley Foods, has hit out at people who voted ‘Leave’ labelling them as irresponsible.

He says that damage to the economy including changes in exchange rates will damage the business that has seen rapid growth and earlier this year won a Queen’s Award for Export in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

“I feel that those who voted Leave have probably taken an irresponsible and likely non reversible decision that ignored the warnings of economists, allies, business leaders and their own government,” he said.

“After 40 years of beneficial membership of the EU the Leavers pushed us into an unknown and risky environment that we maybe poorly prepared or resourced to cope with.

“Nobody knows when the UK will leave the EU or on what terms causing a potentially long period of uncertainty.”

Mike Forrester said that the ‘Leave’ vote is already affecting the Burford based business that employs nearly 80 people and has been exporting to nearly 30 overseas markets.

“In immediate context the pound falling significantly against the UKs major trading partners is an indication of what is to come,” he added.

“Against our own (OVF) trading position last year this fall has a significant impact on our business and without doubt will cause us to be selective in new investments and developing new markets.”

“Our export team has worked very hard and achieved the Queens Award in International Trade. Our exports in June this year are higher than our exports in the whole of 2013.

“Why should we and the UK, wish to stifle that growth or make it harder to achieve?”

He said that the ‘Leave’ vote had been made against the advice of experts from all over the world and that the campaign to quit the EU had been based upon lies.

“The promises and commitments of the Brexiteers cannot be supported and already we see and hear signs of retraction or denial of sweeping statements made about the benefits of leaving the EU,” Mike Forrester added.

“There will be a huge cost of maintaining a free trade relationship.

“The Leave party promised a vision of a vibrant and thriving economy and control over immigration. If the UK rejects the free movement of people it will have to pay the price of being excluded from access to the single market.”

Mike Forrester, who founded the thriving Tenbury business from a front room, wants people to have the chance to vote again as they come to realise the mistake they have made.

“A General election rather than a second referendum should be called with campaigning done to give a clear mandate to the new prime minister and government from the population as to which route to proceed.

“It is likely evidence of a weakening economy will be seen over the next six months making a voting decision in favour of free movement very possible.”