Business leaders urged to speak out over UK’s ‘political ignorance’ on Brexit

WHEN he was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth 16 years ago, Irishman Niall FitzGerald was singled out for his advocacy for Global Britain.

Yesterday, the former chairman and CEO of Unilever – who chaired the British Museum and the Leverhulme Trust – said he felt “personally betrayed” by Brexit given his constant advancing of the cause of Britain as a world-class location for companies and institutions.

In a visceral and deeply heartfelt analysis of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, Mr FitzGerald said business people in Ireland have a responsibility to speak out and not hold back in spelling out the perils of our current situation.

“Future generations will not forgive us if we take refuge in ambiguous politeness,” said Mr FitzGerald, who excoriated the “deeply troubling... reckless dishonesty and ignorance of so-called political leaders in Britain” undermining a great nation and its partners, notably Ireland.

Mr FitzGerald’s address, at an INM Brexit event led by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is an extraordinary call to arms by one of Ireland’s bestknown international businessmen.

It wasn’t all bad news: Mr FitzGerald said Brexit was a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Ireland, but only if we act with “worldscale ambition, national focus and the Celtic courage to spell out our vision”.

Patron of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, Mr FitzGerald said we should not be shy about pitching for the “compensating opportunities” that arise from UK companies and EU-wide institutions seeking an assured EU presence post-Brexit.

“We should no longer be diffident because of a misguided loyalty to the UK government – they have not seen Ireland as their first priority,” said Mr FitzGerald, outlining what Ireland can do to mitigate Brexit’s worst outcomes.

This includes generating support inside Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party, debunking the myth Britain will sweep up juicy trade deals outside of the EU, and putting forward ideas on how to ensure a valuable relationship between the EU and the UK without the latter losing face.

In the run-up to Brexit, the voice of business was largely absent or derided – business wasn’t trusted by citizens.

It is the collapse of trust in business leaders that Mr FitzGerald turned to in a separate but equally forceful address last night, when he was honoured by the Principals Club.

In that address, Mr FitzGerald said business cannot work, banks cannot lend and societies cannot flourish without mutual trust and respect.

“People have become suspicious of business as a whole. That trust has to be won back. It will take time.”

Mr FitzGerald said just because something is within the rules doesn’t make it the right thing to do, adding that by concentrating on new legislation to coerce businesses to behave, we absolve corporations from thinking about how they act.

The question should not be is this legal, but is it right?

“Think of those very large companies who have legally avoided paying tax in many countries in which they generate substantial revenues,” said Mr FitzGerald in a barely concealed swipe at some multi-nationals operating here.

“It may be legal, but is it right to avoid supporting the infrastructure of the society that generates your revenue?”

Most business people avoid a political profile, often for good reason. But business leaders must step up and speak out to secure the trust of the societies they serve.