In the wake of the second commons defeat for Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on Tuesday 12th March, exasperated business leaders have called on MPs to categorically rule out a no-deal Brexit and to vote for an extension to Article 50.
Urging MPs to remove the threat of a no deal scenario ahead of tonight’s vote (Wed 13th March), Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS Group – which represents the UK’s aerospace and defence industry said: “This deepening political crisis is causing real damage to UK industry, harming business investment and putting jobs at risk.”
His comments were echoed by Stephen Phipson CEO of Make UK, who branded parliament’s failure to deliver a workable plan a pantomime. “No deal would be disastrous for UK manufacturing and its 2.7 million jobs”, he said. “The government and Parliament must act collectively, swiftly and decisively in the best interest of the people and the economy. The time for theatre is over.”
As we teeter on the brink of the cliff edge confidence in our political leaders is almost gone
However, confidence that the UK’s politicians will be capable of doing this is apparently at an all-time low. “Tonight’s result is another body blow for the country and the UK’s largest manufacturing sector,” said Food and Drink Federation chief executive Ian Wright. “As we teeter on the brink of the cliff edge, just seventeen days’ away, confidence in our political leaders is almost gone.”
Meanwhile, automotive industry trade body SMMT – which has been one of the most vocal opponents to Brexit, reiterated its concerns for the sector. “No-deal would be catastrophic for the automotive industry,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. “It would end frictionless trade, add billions to the cost of manufacturing and cost jobs. UK automotive businesses will be put at immediate risk. Parliament must reject no-deal and take it permanently off the table.”
Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, called for a new approach from all parties. “This must be the last day of failed politics,” she said. “Conservatives must consign their red lines to history, while Labour must come to the table with a genuine commitment to solutions. It’s time for Parliament to stop this circus.”
Sounding an equally exasperated note, Edwin Morgan, interim director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “Our politicians have yet again failed to find a way to break the impasse. They are becoming adept at saying what they don’t want, but it’s still hard to see where the desire for compromise lies.”
Morgan called on parliament to reject no-deal but warned that short extensions to article 50 with no clear plan will prolong the agony for business: “If an extension is sought, both the government and the opposition must state in precise terms what they are hoping to achieve from it. Recurring short extensions aren’t an appetising prospect for businesses.”
In the meantime, critics have slammed the government’s no deal tariff plans (announced today) which would see 87 per cent of goods entering the UK facing zero tariffs.
Describing the plan as “disgraceful”, FDF’s Ian Wright said that businesses would be unable to adapt to the new regime in just two weeks.
Make UK’s Stephen Phipson welcomed the government’s step back from its initial suggestion of a blanket zero per cent tariff on all goods but said that the plan would still be damaging. “While some industries are now protected, the overall effect will still be decimating for our sector as a whole,” he said.
Meanwhile, Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing Steve Turner accused Theresa May’s government of economic vandalism. “Reducing tariffs to zero on the majority of imports, including steel, in the event of a no deal Brexit would destroy jobs and leave UK manufacturers competing with both hands tied behind their backs,” he said.
Where is the surprise in any of this?
Brexit was always going to be a disaster.
At the end of the day a narrow majority of a large committee (UK Population) voted to leave the EU. This was then handed to another smaller committee (Parliament) with equal divisions to try and get an agreement. Committees larger than two people always struggle to get anywhere!
Plus you have Labour only interested in getting power at any costs so they can shake the magic money tree too pay for everything they have promised plus the things they haven’t promised yet (Trump any one?).
The only way we get out of this alive is with compromise and so far all we have done is make ourselves look stupid, and help the EU beat us up some more!
I cannot see how we can remove the No-Deal option its the only thing we have left!
So if the politicians remove this option then what? We hit the end but can’t leave without a deal, if there’s no deal do we leave or just sit in the waiting room?
This is a crazy situation to be in, and whilst when the dust settles in 5-10-20 years time and we might be sitting like pigs in muck, getting there is going to be interesting!
“A board of directors needs an odd number of people. And three’s too many”
Gianni Agnelli
What is the PM thinking with her cabinet and advisors, when months ago the UK Wallies in Government could have cancelled all this Stupidity and state that the UK will Stay in the EU. As part of this Statement on Article 50 their should be a caveat, that the whole EU review all Directives, EU membership costs, Representation in the EU Parliament and how election of Ministers/Representatives is arrived at [I suggest that each member no matter what size the State/Country is has 2 representatives, 2 Senators and each State/Country can propose on a Term period certain Minister positions be voted on in the Parliament/EU Government, Set Tariffs with Uniformity for all Members for importation outside the EU.
Right now the situation is going to end up with a disastrous outcome for the UK and the EU. The premise for Brexit vote was deeply flawed and no one in Government/Parliament wanted to resolve for the Betterment of the UK or EU. Shameful bunch of elected officials wanting to gain Political points and not what is best for ALL concerned!
We’ll settle for half what the DUP got, and the return of all the money Grayling has wasted. There’s money for your tory mates, it’s about time we did something for the whole population and then maybe – just maybe – they wouldn’t have voted leave.
If MPs vote down every deal AND no deal what position does that leave them with?
“I am unable, yonder beggar cries,
To stand, or move; if he say true, he lies”
It was obvious immediately after the referendum that the majority of MPs are “remainers” as is the majority of the press: they have more-or-less got their wicked way. Having the referendum at all was a massive mistake; now going against the democratically expressed will of the people is new territory for the UK. Maybe we will see Gilet Jaunes soon rather than weak letters like this! Interesting times indeed.
We’ve already seen Gilet Jaunes in the UK, unfortunately dominated by right-wing thugs who have been plaguing British politics since 2016. That’s not interesting, Jack, it’s terrifying.
Goes to show how incompetent many people who run UK businesses are. Most big business leaders are not competent to run the local take away.
For months they have complained about uncertainty and being unable to plan. Now the business leaders are showing what fools they are, by wanting to extend the uncertainty by asking for an extension. And to further complicate the situation by sending the government to negotiate with not one but both hands tied behind there backs.
What person would go to a to a job interview with both hands tied behind their back. With the interviewer knowing they must get this job at any salary and that they don’t have any other options and nearly zero funds in their bank account. Well only a FOOL. Any seasoned negotiator know you must be able and will to walk away from a Bad Deal.
This country has got great potential. A trade deal with the EU should be easy to do, subject to the EU being reasonable. At the moment we has the same standards on everything we make and do, which is the hardest thing to sort out and given we have for years kept importing more and more, we have plenty to bargin with. So let show the why we are Great Britain.
Well I’m Exasperated at the political class and the business classes continually thwarting a democratic vote. Business leaders only get the same (1) vote as the rest of us. Elections and referendums (Aka democracy) are the only chance for all of us to equally influence the direction of policy and over rides what ever business thinks or tries to project in terms of fear of the future as fact. If economics were everything then why have a vote?
Clearly many of the above mentioned groups would prefer there wasn’t – but pretend to talk of respect for ‘The Vote’ when they transparently don’t. Despite trying to portray people as such – people aren’t stupid.
Currently we live in a country where those that govern us are divided, not by party divisions but by individuals with an ideological motive where party loyalties are ignored and the parties themselves are divided. We have a political vacuum which could open the possibility for another political movement, not based on left or right wing or somewhere in between but on more nationalistic ideals. It is a very febrile situation.
A similarity to that of Germany between the wars where a political movement gained power because of the ineptitude of the recognised government is real.
We didn’t have a vote, we had a referendum which is a very different thing and which, in the UK, carries no legal weight. It is merely a sampling of public opinion.
Legally correct, but practically???
The referendum opened a Pandora’s box that will not be easily closed.
Traditionally, the UK has a very compliant and complacent population that has allowed many political abuses to pass, interesting times!
Referendums (should that be referenda) have invariably been trouble in the past: and those which are called to sort out some internal Party political differences, even more so. Our system of Democracy encourages adversarial division and continues IMO to be a disaster.
Whatever the intention, we have managed to get the worst of all possible worlds. Voltaire would be turning in his grave!
Interesting points , Mike. I watched Question Time last night (unusual for me). The audience was askance at the Brexit shambles presently unfolding and the issue of adversarial politics was raised many times. The “neverenderum concept” was also roundly rejected and even booed! Interesting times, Voltaire would certainly have had some good views to offer.