The IoD are – unsurprisingly – in favour, but I don’t really see them as an employer organisation.

The EEF are against. The CBI is more nuanced:

The CBI employers’ body, which supported the 1991 opt-out from the social chapter, said it would back any future reduction in the scope of European social legislation affecting the UK. But John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said there was a balance to be struck between this desirable aim and the government being “able to maintain Britain’s place at the table on European policy”.

I suspect that this means that they feel they have to be positive in public, but don’t see it as any kind of priority in private.

After all, the bigger employers who dominate the CBI tend to honour the modest content of the Social Chapter and would continue to do so – particularly as at least some are unionised. Letting smaller employers undercut them is not in their interest. Very many operate across the EU, and are worried by Tory euro-sceptic instincts – as the CBI quote shows.

Of course employer bodies oppose most new reforms, but once they are bedded in, bigger employers generally accept them. They are not campaigning to allow children to sweep chimneys.

It’s the more poujadist small business lobby who hate European rules.

Uh, really?