Chamber speaks out on Brexit negotiations

ALEX DAVIES

GREATER Manchester Chamber of Commerce is calling for the next government to consider all available options raised during forthcoming Brexit negotiations and to keep businesses updated with clear information and guidance.

The chamber represents businesses across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, including Oldham and has been highlighting key business issues in the run-up to tomorrow's General Election.

The chamber's activity has reflected key themes featured in its ongoing Campaign for Business.

The campaign pulls together the views of chamber members and sets out under six themes the key issues that business wants to see from the next government. These include ongoing calls for infrastructure investment, skills and economic issues, good employment practices around childcare provision and flexible working, the living wage and the vital role that all levels of education have in preparing young people for work.

However another big issue is how the next government will deal with the Brexit negotiation process, under which the UK intends to leave the European Union.

Alex Davies, a research analyst at the chamber who has spoken at advice sessions for local businesses at Oldham College, said: "With a beast as complex as Brexit, and going into prolonged negotiations with another 27 countries, the communications between political parties and the business world is perhaps not conducive to the stable environment that business craves.

"Parties differ on everything from the final destination, to how long we should take to get there, to whether we should be prepared to walk into the unknown. All we ask is that when getting down to the details, pragmatism in the name of stability reigns supreme.

"If we are going to leave the single market, let's make sure we can hold on to as many of the benefits it has delivered as possible before doing so.

"If we can't do that, let's make sure that businesses understand the changes and have time to adapt. Let's make sure that those businesses currently taking advantage of trade deals can continue to do so before we try to make any new ones.

"If we can't do that, let's take time to reassess the trade-offs and see what the options are. Let's not be tied down to any particular strategy or destination and give businesses the signals they need to accommodate whatever change may come.

"The final destination is still up for debate, but the new government should do its utmost to make sure that the path there is as smooth as it needs to be to maintain a stable environment for business.

"A sudden shift of environment in exchange for the promise of a long-term gain does not work for the day-to-day operations of a company, and many simply cannot survive it. For businesses the downside risk of Brexit really lies in the means, not the ends."

To read more about the Chamber's Campaign for Business, visit: www.gmchambercampaigns.com.