CBI demands next government establish business Brexit task force

The next UK government should establish a business Brexit task force within 50 days of taking power at next month's general election, according to the head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Businesses have the ideas and solutions

Paul Drechsler told the CBI's annual dinner in London on Wednesday that British businesses had the ideas and the solutions that could get Britain a better deal from Brexit negotiations to support growth, jobs and future prosperity.But he warned there were the dangers of the next government going it alone and that business needed to contribute to the negotiations because, long after the political battles with the EU have been forgotten, the final deal will matter to the UK for decades to come. 

A thriving economy that benefits everyone

Mr Drechsler said, “In just over 500 hours Britain will be electing the next government. They will make decisions affecting not just us, but the next generation. The scale of the challenges they will face is staggering.“Business and government may have different roles but we share the same, ultimate goal – a thriving economy that benefits everyone. When we get this cooperation right, there’s an amazing alchemy between us, which turns business energy and entrepreneurship into better lives for people across the UK.“So if the next government is serious about Britain’s prosperity, they should champion the value of what we do. And on so many issues – from driving local economies to untangling EU complexity – firms are ready with solutions."At this time of unprecedented challenge, we need unparalleled co-operation between companies and the next government. So in their first 50 days, we want the next government to set up a Business Brexit Taskforce. Where the top minds from government and business work together on the most complex issues, it’s a ‘win-win’ situation for everyone.”

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Mr Drechsler stressed the complexity of the task confronting the new government. "But here’s the good news: as business, we can help the next government navigate this labyrinth of Brexit complexity.“Each of the 1,000 people in this room, each of the 190,000 firms the CBI represents has part of the solution. Expertise in a specific region, sector or size of business which when brought together forms a full picture, which the next government needs to see.“A Business Brexit Taskforce would help the next government get the evidence from the shop, office and factory floor, the compass they'll need to find their way through the details of negotiations. Businesses would get the reassurance, the confidence that the next government is really listening to its concerns.“But if the benefits of working together are clear so are the dangers of the next government going it alone. Business needs a say because, even when the politics have been forgotten we’ll have to live with the effects for decades to come. “So my message to the next government whoever they may be is you don’t need to ‘wing it’. Business has the evidence, the ideas and the solutions.  If you work with us, Britain will get a better deal.”For related news and features, visit our Brexit section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit

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