S & P lowered to “negative” the outlook for the rating from AAA … – The Express

“ The Conservative government’s decision (…) to hold a referendum on membership of the United Kingdom to the EU by 2017 represents a risk to the growth outlook and financial services export sectors, and for the economy in general , “explained S & amp; P in a statement.

“ We further believe that a possible start of the EU raises the question of financing large deficits (fiscal and current accounts, ie) UK ” added the rating agency.

The change in perspective “ negative ” means that the country’s rating could be lowered in the short or medium term, although it is not a certainty, S & amp; P evoking “ a probability of one in three in the next two years “.

S & amp; P is the only one of the three major rating agencies to give her full marks to the UK’s long-term debt. Moody’s awarded him the note “ Aa1 ” (stable outlook), the second best in its scale that has 19, and Fitch affirmed in December his note “ AA + ” with a stable outlook – also the second highest possible rating on its scale of 22.

David Cameron the Conservative prime minister, easily re-elected in the parliamentary elections of May 7, has promised to hold a referendum on maintaining or not the country into the EU by the end 2017. He said personally in favor of keeping, but as part of a reformed EU following a renegotiation of membership conditions of his country.

London wants to repatriate some powers including the name of the sovereignty of the British Parliament and toughen the conditions for access to social benefits for EU citizens.

“ Call for a referendum on membership in the EU will further expose the economic policy (government) to politics politician ,” warned further S & amp; P which sees a comparable situation with that prevailing in the United States when the agency had downgraded the US credit rating on parliamentary guerrilla background between Democrats and Republicans on the budget.

“ The UK benefits from its open-economy status which, we believe, flourished in the EU framework. The country’s membership in the EU allowed its economy to attract more capital flows cheap and skilled labor if it had not been a member of the Single Market “, has yet estimated the rating agency.

“ The significant immigration to the United Kingdom during the past decade has supported the economy and the budget ” British, added S & amp; P.

The business community of the City of London are generally in favor of maintaining the EU, but the uncertainty caused by this call to the polls tend to worry the British employers.

The Treasury has wanted to positive after the decision of S & amp; P, first noting that the agency had kept the note “ AAA “, which is to According to him “ an encouragement to solid recovery favored by the government plan long term “.

“ We are the first to say that we are in a period of high risk that threatens the recovery, which is why we work to strengthen the stability of the economy ” , he stressed.

“ At the heart of this plan is the fact of giving the British people a say on membership of the EU for the first time in 40 years and resolve the uncertainty the UK’s relationship with the EU , “assured the Treasury.