LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) - Tim Martin, the founder of JDWetherspoon, is taking the EU referendum debate into hispubs, talking to customers and distributing half a million beermats challenging the independence of statistics quoted by thegovernment.
Martin, who is chairman of the company, said he did notsupport any political party, but was intervening in the debateto highlight the number of decisions that were taken byunelected officials in Brussels.
"The EU is becoming increasingly undemocratic," he toldReuters. "That's the key issue behind the campaign.
"The democratic deficit point hasn't been defended (by theremain campaign). Their campaign has been based on fear ofleaving."
"In" campaigners like Chancellor George Osborne were relyingon economic data from organisations like the InternationalMonetary Fund and the Bank of England, both of which Osborne waslinked to, he said.
"It's just the establishment ganging up and it's completelyevident that they were unable to predict the last recession orthat the euro wouldn't work for example," he said on Tuesday.
Among executives of large British listed companies, Martinis heavily outnumbered by those backing "remain" in a race thatpollsters say is neck and neck.
Vodafone was the latest company to say a Britishvote to stay in Europe would be best for its business earlier onTuesday.
Martin, however, said he trusted the public to make theright decision, and he has printed arguments on both sides ofthe debate in Wetherspoon News, a magazine available in thegroup's 920 pubs.
Martin said he himself had no plans to enter politics,quoting a line from singer Meat Loaf: "I would do anything forlove (but I won't do that)."
(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Stephen Addison)
Wetherspoon (J.D) (JDW)
