CBI faces stand-off over immigration letter

Business group under fire for releasing joint text on overseas workers without permission of signatories

‘We hadn’t agreed to publish – it was meant to be a private letter. They’ve bounced us into it’

BUSINESS lobbyists are at war after a joint letter calling for corporatefriendly migration rules was made public by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) without permission from other signatories.

Several groups listed as supporters of the letter to Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, are understood to be furious it was made public, and fear the decision will further sour relations with the new Conservative Government.

The letter sought a temporary visa for unskilled migrants and the freedom to hire foreign workers on lower wages. It was dismissed by Downing Street, which urged firms to stop demanding low-cost labour from the Continent.

Among its more than 30 signatories were the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and manufacturing body Make UK. But sources say they had not agreed to release the letter and were not consulted beforehand.

One insider said: “We hadn’t agreed to publish – it was meant to be a private letter. They’ve bounced us into it, and now we’ve got to take the flak, too”.

The row undermines efforts by lobby groups to present a united front and mend fences with Downing Street amid fears they are seen as implacably opposed to Brexit.

Relations were frosty under Theresa May, the former prime minister, while Boris Johnson stunned industry leaders two years ago by dismissing their concerns in a private meeting with the words “f--- business”.

Andrea Leadsom, the Business Secretary, has also reportedly privately attacked lobby groups for their lack of support over the Government’s Brexit stance.

Weekly meetings between the Government and big business groups were suspended earlier in January after they were blamed for leaks. They have been replaced with a monthly gathering featuring more participants.

One minister described current feeling towards the corporate lobby groups as “pretty grim”.

They said publication of the letter would further discourage the Government from talking to the organisations, adding: “This is the time for maximum engagement. Anything that undermines that or affects the dialogue is unhelpful.” FSB and BCC sources sought to play down the argument over the letter, referring to publication as an organisational mistake rather than a deliberate effort to force them to back a position they disagreed with.

Emails seen by The Daily Telegraph show the CBI “profusely apologising” for what happened.

The letter released by the CBI offered to help the Government develop a new immigration system.

Ministers have stressed their determination to reclaim control of Britain’s borders after Brexit and end free movement, introducing an Australian-style system based on points.

The letter said: “Business understands that the immigration system must change in order to rebuild public confidence. Insight from enterprise can help build a points-based model that provides greater control, while providing access to the labour and skills needed to support the economy. And this can go hand in hand with a continued determination to invest in training home grown talent.”

The next meeting between businesses and the Government is scheduled for Monday, with the British Retail Consortium also slated to attend, according to previous reports.

Spokesmen for the FSB, CBI, Makeuk and BCC declined to comment on the matter.

A spokesman for Ms Leadsom also declined to comment.