According to billionaire Michael Bloomberg, Brexit is the “single stupidest thing any country has ever done” – apart from vote Donald Trump as President.
At a technology conference in Boston, Bloomberg made several outspoken comments about Brexit and warned that many companies will move operations out of London.
“It is really hard to understand why a country that was doing so well wanted to ruin it,” said Bloomberg, 75.
Opening the new European headquarters in the City of London earlier this week, the former New York mayor said he had some regrets about his new location.
“We are opening a brand new European headquarters in London – two big, expensive buildings. Would I have done it if I knew they were going to drop out? I’ve had some thoughts that maybe I wouldn’t have, but we are there, we are going to be very happy.
“My former wife was a Brit, my daughters have British passports, so we love England – it’s the father of our country, I suppose. But what they are doing is not good and there is no easy way to get out of it because if they don’t pay a penalty, everyone else would drop out. So they can’t get as good of a deal as they had before.”
Bloomberg said that some of his employees were no longer happy working in the US and UK due to fears of racism.
“One of the things that is hurting us both in the United States and in the UK is that we have employees, not a lot but some, who are starting to say: ‘I don’t want to work here – can we transfer to some place else? This country doesn’t like immigrants,’” he said.
“All this talk in Washington – words have consequences. Whether we change the immigration laws or not, there is general feeling around the world that America is no longer an open, welcoming place and a lot of people don’t want to go there, and the same thing is happening in the UK because of Brexit.”
Bloomberg did, however, show commitment to the capital, despite concerns. Speaking next to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, he said: “Whatever London and the UK’s relationship to the EU proves to be, London’s language, timezone, talent, infrastructure and culture all position it to grow as a global capital for years to come. We are very optimistic about London’s future and we are really excited to be a part of it.”