City’s worries at heart of Brexit talks, says Davis

DAVID DAVIS reassured City firms he has their concerns at heart before heading off to Brussels for the latest round of Brexit negotiations yesterday.

“When I sit around the negotiating table with [EU chief negotiator] Michel Barnier, or round the Cabinet table with my colleagues, it’s always with the importance of the City very much in my mind,” the Brexit Secretary said, adding he was “determined to maintain the City’s competitiveness”.

Speaking at an awards ceremony this week, Mr Davis said he wanted to ensure that employing EU citizens remains “as easy as possible” post Brexit. “While leaving the EU will allow us to bring back control of immigration, it won’t mean pulling up the drawbridge,” he said.

Relationships between the City and the Government have been strained in the wake of the Brexit referendum as some bosses have felt their interests have been overlooked in negotiations.

But ministers have been attempting to reassure businesses recently. Talks between Mr Davis and Mr Barnier resumed yesterday, with negotiations expected to be focused on the scale of Britain’s exit bill, rights of EU citizens and the future of the Irish border.