‘No-deal Brexit’ leaves an uncertain future for many
The uncertainty of Brexit is “terrifying” for a Bath boss who is expanding his business into an empty shop in the city centre. Edward Thomas, director of Gym Marine Yachts and Interiors, has built a business on providing gym equipment and design expertise to wealthy yacht owners all over the world. Later this year he plans to open a showroom on Broad Street in Bath city centre, to offer gym equipment and design services to local people, as well as clients from London, Europe and wider international markets. But Britain’s ongoing negotiations to exit the European Union could hurt the finances of Gym Marine, and other businesses in Bath and beyond that thrive based on imports and exports, Mr Thomas fears. In a letter to Bath’s MP, Mr Thomas said the risks of Brexit were scary. He wrote: “The government has made little indication of what exporters like us might face in the wake of a no-deal Brexit, and it is somewhat terrifying to a young business like ours that our trade with our neighbours may grind to a sudden halt.” The money generated by Gym Marine comes back to the UK because the business is based in Bath, in the form of taxes and spending. Bath could miss out on this wealth creation if Brexit leaves British export businesses at a disadvantage, Mr Thomas argues. Mrs Hobhouse has always opposed Brexit and has campaigned in favour of a ‘people’s vote’ on the final deal between the UK Government and the EU. She said she wanted to meet Mr Thomas to discuss his specific concerns. In a statement on his letter, she said: “I think it’s quite clear at this point that we will all be worse off after Brexit in any form. According to Jacob Rees-mogg, it may be 50 years before we see any benefits from Brexit at all. “However, a no-deal Brexit will spell immediate disaster for British companies and British people. “I can appreciate the terrible worry that many business owners are going through. “The situation is so grave that I can’t believe that anyone would be reckless enough to let us crash out. “If this happens our government will have completely failed us, and we will only know the scale of the impact once it has happened. “Businesses needs easy movement of goods, materials and services to succeed, with no tariffs adding to their costs. “That’s the deal we have at the moment. “What we need is a People’s Vote on the new deal, whenever that deal is finalised, to make sure the population are happy with the direction the country is headed. “To comment on Mr Thomas’ business, and what questions I can ask on his behalf in Westminster, I would need to know specific details. “I have asked him to come into the office to brief me on his circumstances.” Supporters of Brexit - such as another local MP, Conservative Jacob Rees-mogg - have always argued that British business will thrive by being able to strike trade deals beyond Europe, once free of the bureaucracy of Brussels.