Business leaders snub May’s ‘back Brexit’ plea
Anti-business rhetoric in run-up to general election blamed for Prime Minister’s failure to secure support
THERESA MAY was facing embarrassment yesterday after it emerged that the bosses of some of Britain’s biggest companies refused to sign a letter backing her Brexit strategy.
The letter, which is being circulated among FTSE 100 executives but has been leaked, states that it is a “good time” for employers to work with the Government and Parliament to “make a success of Brexit”.
It also endorses the Government’s Repeal bill, which today has its second reading in the Commons in the face of opposition from pro-european Conservative MPS and Labour.
Business leaders told The Daily Telegraph that they were reluctant to sign the letter amid concerns about Mrs May’s “anti-business rhetoric” in the run-up to the general election.
One said: “We were asked but we politely declined. There’s nothing particularly problematic in the letter – if anything it is a little light on detail – but the issue these officials have faced is that they are reaching out for help to many of the companies which Government wouldn’t give the time of day to ahead of the general election.”
Another executive who refused to sign told Sky News, which obtained the leaked letter: “There is no way we could sign this given the current state of chaos surrounding the [Brexit] talks.”
It came as business leaders criticised an 81-page Home Office document which sets out plans for a crackdown on migration after Brexit, including a potential cap on numbers and a barring of low-skilled workers staying longer than two years.
Letters of support from business leaders were previously used by David Cameron’s government and played a central role in the run-up to the 2015 general election.
However, they backfired during the EU referendum, when Downing Street organised a letter from military commanders in favour of Remain. It emerged that some signatories had not agreed to put their names to the letter. Downing Street refused to comment on the claims that it had been snubbed, saying it would not speculate on leaked documents.
The text being circulated states that executives share “a commitment to ensure that we make a success of the outcome for the whole country, and a confidence that a global Britain has the potential to become one of the most productive economies of the 21st century”.
It states: “This month the Government’s Repeal Bill will initiate a programme of legislation that will make Britain ready for life outside the EU. We believe this is a good time for employers to work with Government and Parliament to make a success of Brexit and secure a bright future for our country.”
The letter also urges businesses to “make progress towards establishing stronger trading links with markets like the US, India, Japan and Mexico”.
It says: “We are determined to see the UK continue to be a prosperous and united force for good in the world and are ready to play our full part to achieve this as Britain leaves the EU.”
Downing Street said in a letter to executives that it had already secured the support of major business leaders.