Politics

Don’t trash party’s reputation with no deal Brexit, bosses warn Tories



Bosses today issued an unprecedented warning to the Conservatives not to “trash” their reputation as the party for business by catapulting Britain out of the EU without a Brexit deal. 

They stressed that the UK is not ready for a shock severing of ties at the end of October, with more than a dozen “big, real-world” questions on future trading yet to be properly unanswered. 

Businesses are deeply reluctant to be dragged into politics and particularly into a party leadership contest. However, there is growing alarm in boardrooms over the threat of no deal which is forcing company chiefs to “burn money” on preparations. 

John Dickie, director of strategy and policy at London First, which represents more than 200 major firms in the capital, told the Standard: “Crashing out of the EU without a deal would hit jobs and growth hard, trashing the Conservative Party’s reputation as the party of business in the process.”

Businesses were braced for a “bumpy few weeks” during the Tory leadership contest, he said, adding: “Once the election is over, we need to see robust leadership in the national interest.” Josh Hardie, CBI deputy director-general, said: “There is no question that a damaging no-deal scenario feels more likely than ever, with October nudging closer. Right now firms are burning money on no-deal preparations, stockpiling and relocating that could be better spent on improving the UK’s poor productivity performance.”

Dr Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, also warned against a “messy and disorderly” exit from the EU.

“Neither government, its agencies nor many businesses are ready for an abrupt exit. We still have over a dozen big, real-world questions on future trading conditions that remain unanswered, with major consequences for firms right across the UK as well as their customers and suppliers,” he added.

At least four contenders for the leadership, Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey are ready to hurtle the UK out of the EU on October 31, with or without a deal.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock today accused them of making a promise they could not deliver as MPs have previously voted overwhelmingly to block a no-deal exit. “We have to have a Brexit policy that’s based on reality,” he told the BBC’s Today programme.

Matt Hancock issued a reminder that MPs have previously voted overwhelmingly to block a no-deal exit (AFP/Getty Images)

The European election results made clear that the Tories face a hammering if a general election is called before Brexit is delivered.

Mr Hancock, 40, the youngest candidate in the race so far, also doubted Parliament would “lie down and ignore its ability to have influence” on the issue. He added: “It just shows we need to deliver Brexit on a deal that can get through this Parliament, that is the only way to leave on 31st October which is very much what I want to do.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was hit with a backlash from Brexiteers after warning that pursuing a no-deal exit would be “political suicide” as it risked a general election which could put Jeremy Corbyn into No 10.

Mr Hunt appeared to place more hope on being able to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement — something Brussels has repeatedly said will not happen — than Mr Hancock, who seemed to focus on future trade talks and resolving the Northern Ireland border “backstop” row with technology. The Health Secretary also took a swipe at former foreign secretary Mr Johnson who once reportedly said “f*** business” in response to bosses warning about dangers of a hard Brexit. Mr Hancock told the Financial Times: “To the people who say ‘f*** business’, I say f*** ‘f*** business’.”

He unveiled a £5 billion two-year tax-cutting stimulus plan and proposed a review of taxation to redress the balance between large business rates paid by high street stores and online firms.

Speaker John Bercow has made clear he will not allow Parliament to be sidelined on Brexit. He announced he wants to stay in his role during the deadlock, adding: “The idea that Parliament is going to … be evacuated from the centre-stage of the debate … is unimaginable.”

Brexit minister James Cleverly, the 11th candidate to enter the Tory contest, argued that while no deal could be “delivered” there were risks of “pursuing” it. Calling himself “Brexit tooth and claw”, he said: “I have always said we need to be pragmatic, we need to be sensible, we need to leave with a deal.”

Home Secretary Sajid Javid, another contender, announced plans to recruit 20,000 more police officers.



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