Responding to Theresa May’s speech on the UK’s future relationship
with the EU at Mansion House this afternoon, Federation of
Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry, who
attended the speech, said: “We welcome hearing the Prime
Minister say the Government is doing what it can to encourage more
small businesses to export not just to the EU but also around the
world. To make Brexit a success small businesses must be at the
heart of negotiations on the future...Request free trial
Responding to ’s speech on the UK’s future
relationship with the EU at Mansion House this
afternoon, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
National Chairman Mike Cherry, who attended the
speech, said:
“We welcome hearing the Prime Minister say the Government is
doing what it can to encourage more small businesses to export not
just to the EU but also around the world. To make Brexit a success
small businesses must be at the heart of negotiations on the future
economic partnership.
“We also welcomed her commitment to ensuring trade is low
cost and "as frictionless as possible and with no hard border" in
Ireland. Both the UK and the EU must have the shared goal of
reaching an agreement which allows small businesses both in the UK
and the EU 27 to flourish. That is why we are calling for both
sides to take a pragmatic approach. All small business eyes will be
on the forthcoming EU Council meeting to provide the certainty that
small businesses urgently need.
“The Prime Minister set out five pillars that guide her in
the negotiations. In response, there are five key questions small
businesses need answered.
“The most pressing question is when will an agreement on the
terms of the transition period be reached? This is vital to allow
trade, access to labour and skills to continue on current terms
while new trade arrangements are finalised.
“Secondly, with the Government’s call to boost free trade,
will small businesses maintain as frictionless trade as possible
with the EU27, whilst also benefiting from reaching out to new
global growth markets? We cannot have a situation where small
businesses are weighed down by additional burdensome paperwork,
queues and costs.
“Third, will small businesses be able to have easy and cost
effective access to the skills and talent they need to grow and
innovate?
“Fourth, will small businesses and the self-employed be able
to easily travel across all the EU 27 member states to win new
contracts and do their day-to-day work?
“Finally, when powers are returned from Europe, will
Government prioritise the needs of small businesses across all
nations of the UK and remove unnecessary barriers to
growth?
“Small businesses, as a group, now find themselves at the
centre of the Brexit debate. ended her speech by saying “let’s
get on with it” – that’s a sentiment shared by small businesses as
there is now an urgency for all sides to find the solutions that
empower and strengthen the small business community and the many
people they employ.”
