The CBI has sent an
open letter to all Conservative Party leadership candidates.
In the letter,
Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, says she is writing on behalf of the
190,000 firms the CBI speaks for – from start-ups in Newport to multinationals
in Newcastle.
Together they employ
a third of the private sector workforce, and every one of them is driven by a
desire to see their company and Britain succeed, she writes.
But she says the
last few years have been tough, and it’s no secret that firms’ frustration with
Westminster has grown.
"I and our
members want this to change and we have a clear message for the next
Conservative leader and future Prime Minister," she writes. "Champion
business. Work with us in a new era of partnership to build a post-Brexit
Britain that is both prosperous and fair.
"The UK has so
many strengths. Working together we can approach the future with confidence and
optimism."
She sets out three
key goals:
- First, show the
world the UK is a great place for business. Brand Britain is a powerful calling
card. But ongoing uncertainty has raised questions about our stability, and not
solely because of Brexit.
- Second, build a bold
and compelling vision for the UK’s future on the world stage. Lift the modern
industrial strategy from textbook to reality, so it unlocks the animal spirits
of enterprise. Make it long term and cross-party.
- Third, back efforts
to demonstrate that good business is good for society, that profit and purpose
go hand in hand. Business knows it needs to work harder to show it’s a problem
solver, not a problem to be solved.
"These are just
three of the opportunities we can seize to show how post-Brexit Britain will be
a great place to live, work and run a business," she continues. "But
the next Prime Minister can only claim the Conservatives are the party of business
if they secure a Brexit deal that protects the economy, jobs and living
standards.
"Firms large
and small are clear that leaving the EU with a deal is the best way forward.
Short-term disruption and long-term damage to British competitiveness will be
severe if we leave without one. The vast majority of firms can never be
prepared for no-deal, particularly our SME members who cannot afford complex
and costly contingency plans.
"We need
compromise, consensus and honesty to resolve the Brexit impasse, quickly.
Prolonged uncertainty is damaging our economy now – driving up costs and
reducing sales. Stockpiling of raw materials and goods among SMEs is at a
record high. Billions of pounds in investment are being diverted from the
economy, harming future jobs and prosperity. "
The CBI urges the
next Prime Minister to build their approach to Brexit from the bottom up – from
the clear, detailed evidence of firms, on the ground, managing the day-to-day
implications for jobs. Only then will the UK have the foundations for a world beating
economy.
