The City Minister delivered a speech at a financial services consultancy to warn about the risks posed to the sector by Brexit.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Harriett Baldwin today told business leaders at E2W in Kings Hill, near West Malling, that remaining in the EU is vital for the financial industry.

The financial services sector supports 38,000 jobs in Kent and more than 250,000 across the South East, adding nearly £13 billion to the region’s economy in 2014.

Its success has been in part down to its proximity to London, rated as the world’s top international financial centre.

Across the South East, the Government estimates 137,000 people work in financial services, with another 145,000 jobs in associated professional services.

This is in addition to the roughly 730,000 South East residents who work in the City of London and West End, according to TheCityUK.

Mrs Baldwin argued leaving the EU would put tens of thousands of jobs at risk across the UK and that it would negatively impact on women looking to succeed.

“This country faces a fundamental choice – whether to remain a member of a reformed EU, or to take a leap into the dark,” she said.

“The financial services industry in the South East is going from strength to strength, with 137,000 people employed in financial services and a further 145,000 people working in associated professional services.

“A vote to stay will protect these jobs and promote further economic growth in the South East.”

Mrs Baldwin chose to visit E2W in light of her role as the minister responsible for women in the economy.

The financial services consultancy helps women manage their financial services careers and connects them with financial institutions.

“Women know what it is like to be side-lined,” said Mrs Baldwin. “We know that to be truly heard you have to have a ‘seat at the table’.

“If the UK leaves the EU, we will lose our influence. We will have to comply with EU laws without having a say in how they are made.”

E2W serves clients throughout Europe, Asia and North America from its headquarters in Kent and offices in USA, Singapore and Zurich.

“At the very least leaving the EU will mean years of uncertainty in the City..." - E2W co-founder Mark Freed

It recently signed the Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter committing to improve gender balance in financial services firms.

E2W co-founder Mark Freed said: “At the very least leaving the EU will mean years of uncertainty in the City.

“The worst predictions are that it could be catastrophic. For E2W a business that relies on the success of our financial services sector, remaining in Europe and ensuring London’s place as a world leader in the sector is hugely important.”

This week a letter in the Telegraph, signed by more than 300 business leaders, said Britain’s competitiveness was being undermined by its membership of the EU.

Signatories said “red tape stifles every one of Britain’s 5.4 million businesses” and that Brexit would help them “create more jobs”.

They included Andrew Baxter, managing director of Dartford-based Europa Worldwide Logistics, Emma Pullen, chief executive of Sandwich-based British Hovercraft, and Stuart Wheeler, founder of IG Group, who lives in Chilham Castle.