Business bosses back her deal as ‘pragmatic and workable’

BUSINESS leaders backed Theresa May’s Brexit plan yesterday, saying it was ‘night and day better’ than crashing out of the EU without a deal.

As the Prime Minister faced Cabinet resignations and anger from Tory MPs, figures from the City and industry rallied behind her proposals.

They claimed Mrs May’s deal would prevent a ‘cliff edge’ on March 29, adding a wave of pent-up investment could be unleashed if a deal was finally secured.

Key bosses were briefed on Mrs May’s proposals by Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark.

One of them, Aston Martin chief Andy Palmer, said he breathed ‘a sigh of relief’ after the call.

The 55-year-old said: ‘This deal is night and day better than a no deal Brexit. It would appear to operate as a tariff-free border, and the transition part gives us time to understand that. It appears to meet all our requests.’

He was followed by other captains of industry who welcomed Mrs May’s draft agreement and called for politicians to provide certainty. Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, said: ‘The announcement of a draft Brexit withdrawal agreement is a welcome first step forwards.

‘We look forward to further clarity and the removal of uncertainty as soon as possible so that Airbus, like every business in the UK, can properly plan for the future.’

John McFarlane, chairman of Barclays and TheCityUK lobby group, said: ‘This is constructive progress and presents a pragmatic and workable solution. We appreciate there needed to be compromises but this is infinitely better than the severe and unpredictable damage from a no deal outcome.’

Sir Roger Carr, chairman of aerospace giant BAE Systems, said: ‘It’s something that had the key elements of what people were looking for, particularly in the sense of a pathway to frictionless trade, control of our borders and preservation of the UK.’

The Health Secretary yesterday refused to rule out the possibility that people could die because of medical shortages if there is a no deal Brexit.

Matt Hancock declined three times to say that crashing out of the EU without a deal would not lead to deaths – and he warned that no deal would be ‘not pretty’ for patients.

Health chiefs have been warning for months of the dangers of supplies of medicines running out.