WALES Office Minister Lord Nick Bourne highlighted how leaving the EU would be a ‘leap in the dark’ during a visit to Newport.

The Office Minister visited Newport clothing retailer JoJo Maman Bébé today, to highlight why it is crucial for Welsh businesses that the UK remain within a reformed EU placeholder.

During his speech at the store, the Minister warned that, in the event of a Brexit, small and medium businesses could face a future of negotiations and uncertainty.

He stated that it is important people understand that no alternative would include full access to the single market.

Lord Bourne said: “A vote to leave the EU is a leap in the dark that Welsh businesses cannot afford to take.

“The consequences of leaving the EU span across everything from Welsh businesses and the steel industry to the environment and food produce.

“Businesses across Wales rely on our deep links with the single market which, in recent years, has been a core part of our economic growth.”

The Treasury recently predicted that the Welsh economy would be tipped into recession and unemployment could rise by 24,000 if the UK votes to leave the EU.

Lord Bourne held the speech at JoJo Maman Bébé to show how small businesses have grown with the help of the European Union.

The Welsh store started from a family business and now sells to 46 countries around the world.

Founder and managing director of JoJo Maman Bébé Laura Tenison MBE said: “There is much written about the pros and cons of staying in the EU - good, persuasive arguments on both sides.

“The one issue that economists agree on is that change creates uncertainty, which is bad for business.

“If Great Britain votes to leave the EU the inevitable uncertainty will put capital expenditure projects on hold.”

Lord Bourne's statement, which was also published today, said it is clear that Wales currently benefits from the UK being a member of the EU and Treasury analysis shows that around 100,000 jobs in Wales are linked to the UK’s exports to other EU countries.