EUROPEAN Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was accused of “bully boy tactics” yesterday after claiming that Britain would pay a heavy price for an EU exit. 

The Portuguese social democrat said that manufacturing companies were ready to abandon Britain if a majority voted to leave the EU in a referendum.

“They have told me — some of the most important global companies — that they will move out of Britain from the City to Frankfurt or to Paris if Britain leaves the European Union,” he said.