British exit from European Union would cost UK billions – German study

Bertelsmann Stiftung and ifo Institute study says Brexit could knock 14% off GDP, costing UK economy up to 215bn

A British exit from the European Union could cost the UK as much as a300bn (215bn), or 14% of GDP, according to a German study.

The report from two respected German institutes warns of far-reaching consequences for the whole region should next week's UK general election pave the way for a referendum on EU membership, as promised by the Conservatives, and ultimately a British departure from the bloc.