Brexit and Tory infighting has put businesses off the UK, minister admits

14 February 2023 , 17:07

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Mel Stride admitted that creating 'frictions' was likely to cause issues (Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A Tory Cabinet minister has admitted that Brexit and Tory chaos has impacted efforts to attract investment to the UK.

Mel Stride, Rishi Sunak's Work and Pensions Secretary, conceded that creating "frictions" between Britain and the European Union will have had an impact.

It comes after Paul Drechsler, the chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce UK, said Labour is now winning the argument on business.

In a devastating broadside, Mr Drechsler - a former skills adviser to David Cameron - blamed Brexit and the chaos afterwards for reducing the willingness of firms to invest in Britain.

Asked about the businessman's remarks, Mr Stride told the BBC's The World At One programme: "I think if you have a situation where you create frictions between yourself and your major trading partners, I think you have to accept that that will have an impact."

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Mr Stride, who voted to Remain in the 2016 referendum, conceded it was "taking a bit of time" to benefit from the business opportunities from Brexit, but added: "They are coming through - you can see them coming through.

Paul Drechsler said Labour is winning the argument on business

"We've moved on now and I accept that and I cannot argue now that there are not major opportunities, what we need to do now is get out there and capitalise on them and that's what we're determined to do."

The chief executive of campaign group Best for Britain said the remarks would leave a "bitter taste" for the public.

Naomi Smith said: “People were told in no uncertain terms that Brexit would make their lives better but instead it has caused unnecessary hardship for millions, crushed businesses and cost our country billions.

“This belated admission will have a bitter taste for the public particularly while Mr Stride’s Cabinet colleagues continue to claim the exact opposite. In the national interest politicians must start being honest about Brexit and urgently begin repairing the damage."

Mr Stride's comments also come amid concerns from prominent Brexiteers about a "secret" summit attended by Cabinet minister Michael Gove seeking to address the challenges of Brexit.

Downing Street suggested Rishi Sunak did not know in advance that Mr Gove would be attending and the Prime Minister insisted he is focused on the benefits of Brexit.

Rishi Sunak wasn't aware of a Brexit 'summit' attended by Michael Gove, No 10 suggested (PA)

Britain is struggling with high inflation rates and the International Monetary Fund has forecast that it will be the only G7 nation, including Russia, to see its economy shrink this year.

Bank of England policymaker Jonathan Haskel has said that Brexit caused investment in UK businesses to plateau and dealt a productivity penalty worth £29 billion.

Mr Drechsler, a former head of the Confederation of British Industry, blamed former prime minister Boris Johnson's threats to breach international law over Brexit and his unlawful prorogation of Parliament as among the issues scarring off businesses from investing in Britain.

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"If there's one thing you could depend on in the UK for centuries it was adherence to the rule of law but over the past small number of years we've prorogued Parliament, we've rejected international treaties we've just signed," he said.

"We've talked about our judges as enemies of the people and now we're about to bin thousands of EU laws without having any alternative for business to rely on.

"It's self-evident that the trend lying up to 2016 has shifted significantly over the past six years."

He said businesses are "struggling" to employ the people with the right skills for jobs.

"That's an obstacle to economic growth of our own making," he said.

He said Mr Sunak's Conservatives are "incredibly fragmented, incredibly divided and do not have a brilliant narrative to attract investment".

Dave Burke