Callander businesses slam Brexit ‘uncertainty’
Town has its say on issue that’s dominating the news
Business owners in Callander have expressed their frustration with Brexit following the release of the draft withdrawal agreement.
The blueprint was published last week and sets out the terms by which Britain will leave the EU.
Under the proposed terms, Britain faces a £39billion divorce bill, and a year-and-ahalf long transition period in which Britain will remain in the single market and customs union.
And while both sides want to avoid a `hard’ border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the agreement proposes a `backstop’ arrangement.
It sets out plans to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland in the event that the UK leaves the EU without securing an all-encompassing deal.
Terms of the deal have been condemned by some from parties on all sides and its chances of being approved by the House of Commons is in doubt. The vote is due to take place next month but there is no set date.
Prime Minister Theresa May has defended the agreement, affirming that it is her deal or `no deal’.
The Observer spoke to some businesses to see what people thought of the Brexit blueprint.
Jim Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Shortbread, Callander, feels that Brexit will be damaging for his company’s exports and is calling for a second referendum.
He said: “We’re a seventh generation business and export to a huge range of countries such as Russia, China and Japan.
“[Minister for International Trade] Liam Fox says that he wants to turn the UK into an export hub, but we’re already in a great situation.
“The EU already has negotiated good terms with most countries and it’s very easy for existing UK companies to export, so I see no benefit whatsoever.”
“I was a Remainer and the reason for that is I consider that we would have negative export ability as a country.
“The EU is negotiating on behalf of 508 million members as a bloc. This would be against 65 million in the UK. “I’ve never put funds to a political party in my life previously but I have now put funds towards a `people’s vote’. From a business point of view, it’s hugely important [Brexit] is reversed.”
“Anyone with a sense of European history, over the last 300 years, could see the madness of Europe breaking up. Especially with new geopolitical threats such as Russia. We should be part of a strong European bloc, politically and militarily.”
Earlier this month, more than 70 business leaders signed an open letter calling for a `people’s vote’ on Brexit.
The government has repeatedly ruled out a second referendum on either EU membership or the terms of the withdrawal agreement.
Callander resident Jeff Miles, 76, also voiced his opposition to Britain’s departure from the EU.
He said: “I think we should do everything we can to stay in, I don’t even know what we’re leaving for. It’s going to take years to figure out and I think we’ll suffer a bit”.
Mark Nicols, 45, owns Scott’s Bistro in Callander. He said the biggest problem with Brexit was the “uncertainty” around leaving.
“I’m a firm remainer and it looks like we’re being dragged out by England,” he added.
“Most of the customers that come to my restaurant are from the south east of England and champion leaving. The biggest issue for them is immigration, which doesn’t seem to be much of a problem up here.”
He also says that, working in hospitality, he’s finding it “harder and harder to find staff ”.
In his column for the Observer on Wednesday, MP for Stirling Stephen Kerr pledged his support both for the Brexit deal and Theresa May.
Leave voter Mr Kerr, who has asked for assurances on certain aspects of the deal said: “When I speak to people in Stirling the most common thing I am told is that the politicians should get on with it.
“We need certainty, and [the withdrawal agreement] represents the way to achieve it.”
Last weekend, a poll conducted by Stirling Lib Dems indicated that the majority of Bridge of Allan residents were in support of a `people’s vote’.