Business anger over ‘political games’ which put jobs at risk

BUSINESS leaders have voiced their fury at MPs’ failure to agree a deal.

They said last night’s third vote against Theresa May’s withdrawal terms left firms in a ‘spirit-sapping limbo’.

Stephen Phipson, head of the manufacturing group Make UK, said businesses were losing contracts every day, investment was falling and firms were ‘voting with their feet and walking away from Britain as a place to do business’.

Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses said: ‘On the day we were supposed to be leaving the European Union, all we have is yet another political failure.’ Small firms were ‘sick and tired of politicians debating and dithering’ and ‘crying out about the significant damage that uncertainty is causing’.

He added: ‘These cries have been drowned out by those seeking to play political games.’

Edwin Morgan, of the Institute of Directors, said: ‘We are running out of words to express how sick business leaders are of being stuck in this spirit-sapping limbo.’ And the CBI’s Josh Hardie said: ‘The UK’s reputation, people’s jobs and livelihoods are at stake. No Deal is two weeks away.’