Just one estate agent was among the 197 business leaders who signed yesterday’s letter to The Times calling for Britain to stay in Europe.

The signatories included 36 FTSE 100 bosses, including the likes of BP, Marks & Spencer and BAE Systems.

The letter claimed to represent every business sector in the UK.

It said: “The businesses we lead represent every sector and region of the United Kingdom. Together we employ more than one million people across the country.

“Following the Prime Minister’s renegotiation, we believe that Britain is better off staying in a reformed European Union. He has secured a commitment from the EU to reduce the burden of regulation, deepen the single market and to sign off crucial international trade deals.

“Business needs unrestricted access to the European market of 500 million people in order to continue to grow, invest and create jobs. We believe that leaving the EU would deter investment and threaten jobs. It would put the economy at risk.

“Britain will be stronger, safer and better off remaining a member of the European Union.”

The estate agent who added their name was not, as perhaps might have been expected, the head of one of the large national or regional chains, or a stock market listed business.

Nor was it Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, who founded Hunters and is now its chairman.

This week Hollinrake tweeted: “Big fan of Boris but believe staying in EU will keep people across the country stronger, safer and better off. #Strongerin.”

So, just who was the agent who signed The Times letter that has made so many headlines and was the lead item on BBC news yesterday?

It was Mahmood Faiz, director of James William Estate Agents in Walthamstow.