A City co-conspirator gets in touch claiming Downing Street are soliciting for another pro-EU letter, this time signed by a group of businesswomen and female celebrities. The stunt would apparently focus on the alleged benefits to gender and workplace equality provided by Brussels, and is being tentatively lined up for the papers ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. Ultra-Europhile Nicky Morgan is said to be involved, and expect names like Karren Brady, Martha Lane Fox and Kathy Lette to crop up. It will probably borrow heavily from BSE’s Women for In campaign material:

“We are drawn from all walks of life. We work in medicine, retail, health, financial services, the creative industries, trade unions, interior design and fashion. And we have all benefitted from our membership of the EU. Those of us who are businesswomen have seen how free trade agreements have enabled businesses to crack new markets, how regulation has been aligned to allow us to operate across Europe and how travel round the continent has been made quicker, easier and cheaper. Those of us who are mums have taken for granted the maternity leave set out in EU employment law. And those of us who are grandmothers are excited about the prospect of our grandchildren being able to live, work and study in countries across Europe. This isn’t just about whether Britain is strong today, but safeguarding opportunities for future generations too.”

Last week No. 10 civil servant Chris Hopkins’ email to FTSE companies was leaked to Guido, so this time Downing Street are contacting would be signatories by phone only in the hope word doesn’t get out. A strategy which is not proving successful…