Real and present danger to firms

Business leaders from all over the UK have been warning about the Tory government’s “haphazard”Brexit approach, adding that the continued uncertainty over the future of EU workers posed a“real and present danger”to businesses across the UK.

The Institute of Directors calls for the UK government to“engage properly on the most imminent risk to business from Brexit,”came after the Scottish Chambers of Commerce’s latest quarterly survey that pressed the Tory government to seek an“early agreement on the rights of existing EU workers to live and work in the UK.”

I echo those concerns, the UK government really needs to end the internal squabbling and counterbriefings and instead work towards protecting the UK’s key businesses, jobs and economic opportunities.

We already know that an extreme Brexit has the potential to cost Scotland up to 80,000 jobs and £11.2 billion per year, yet time and time again, warnings from the business community to the Tory Government go ignored – causing uncertainty that is toxic to investment and growth.

The uncertainty and threat is further fermented by the continued failure of the UK government to seek an early agreement on the rights of existing EU workers, who are key to the success and growth of businesses, not least the soft fruit and tourism industries that are so important in my constituency.

The real and present danger posed to businesses is the UK government’s continued flip-flopping on its Brexit plans and ministers continued internal squabbling with briefings and counter briefings.

It is utterly ludicrous that a party that professes to be pro-business continues to ignore Brexit warnings from almost every sector of the usiness community. From the automotive industry to the agriculture sector, business couldn’t be clearer on what they need, it’s high time the Tories listened.

Unfortunately, the UK government’s contradictions and counter-briefings have continued over the UK’s final financial settlement with the EU, marking yet another milestone in the Tory shambles over the UK’s plans to leave the EU.

The status and progress of the UK’s negotiations with the EU rests on the Conservatives agreeing to meet financial obligations and making progress on the final settlement bill. But over a year on, and the Tory government still flounders over one of the key issues.

Theresa May must put an end to the leaks and briefings and instead set out clearly her strategy before the Tories head into the next round of negotiations – the PM must also guarantee a seat at the table for devolved administrations, which is something there is widespread support for.

Despite trumpeting the rhetoric of taking back control, this latest episode over one of the key issues show this is a government that has completely lost all control of its obsessive hard Brexit bandwagon.