The CBI responded to the Prime Minister’s speech at
the 2018 Conservative Party Conference.
Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General,
said:
“The Prime Minister’s unambiguous call to back
business is welcome. Unity in politics can be matched by unity
between government and business. Championing a pro-enterprise
economy is the only way to show the world that Britain is a
fantastic place to create the products and services that power
growth. It’s this approach that will ensure every policy and
investment have people’s living standards in their
sights.
“This starts with Brexit. A new relationship with
Europe based on the Chequers model with frictionless trade has
strong business support. The Prime Minister has stood her ground,
resisting the fiction that a Canada-style deal works for jobs.
Now politicians should support her to get a deal – and the
critical withdrawal agreement – over the line.
“Brexit must not suck the oxygen out of domestic
policy. Here too there will be support from firms large and
small. A renewed approach to housing and education will
lift productivity and improve people’s
lives.
“But the Government’s proposed new immigration system
is a wrong turn. The UK economy needs workers at all skill
levels. A one-size-fits-all global system ignores the need for
migration to be on the table for trade deals and binds small
firms in unmanageable red tape.
“Firms will be optimistic that the Prime Minister
wants to embrace a new era of concrete collaboration between
enterprise and politics. In this spirit, this cannot be the final
word on key policies from immigration, to tax reform and skills.
They need to be developed together to ensure the UK grows and
everyone feels the benefit.”
