A third of UK businesses want Starmer to cut Brexit red tape
Some 31 per cent of companies want to see a reduction in post-Brexit regulatory requirements
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Around a third of UK businesses have urged Sir Keir Starmer to cut post-Brexit red tape in order to support British trade, with campaigners bemoaning “unimagined new layers of bureaucracy”.
A survey, conducted by Santander, found that 31 per cent of companies want to see a reduction in post-Brexit regulatory requirements, including customs procedures, obtaining appropriate licences for trading, and strengthened mutual recognition of professional standards and qualifications across Europe.
Since the UK left the EU in January 2020, the government has put in place a number of trade regulations for overseas goods, including border controls, customs declarations and health certifications.
Dr Mike Galsworthy, Chairman of the European Movement, told The Independent: “Far from freeing British businesses from red tape, Brexit dumped previously unimagined new layers of bureaucracy onto them.
“Having now experimented with life outside the EU, we can clearly see that it is a far worse place to be for UK businesses compared with membership of the Customs Union and Single Market.
“We can tinker with a few bit of red tape outside Sir Keir Starmer’s red lines, but the real freedom, and the best future for the UK economically, lies in cutting those red lines themselves - and we hope British businesses will join European Movement UK in making those calls.”
However, the Santander survey also found that nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of businesses are confident they will grow in the next three years, while 36 per cent are “very confident” about future growth.
This is compared to just 22 per cent one year ago.
Santander said the latest survey demonstrates a “growing sense of optimism” among small to medium-sized businesses as inflation and its impact starts to reduce.
John Baldwin, Santander’s Corporate & Commercial Banking CEO, said businesses are “looking to the new government to help match their ambition and get more...conquering the globe”.
“SMEs are the lifeblood of the economy and supporting their success at home and abroad will drive both growth in the economy and in jobs”, he added.
Sir Keir has promised a “reset” of relations with the EU, pledging to “make Brexit work” by renegotiating the deal agreed upon by Boris Johnson and the Tories.
Speaking to The Independent on a flight to Washington DC in September, the prime minister said he had put the UK’s relationship with Europe at the top of his agenda since Labour swept to power.
“I’m very serious about it,” he said. “I think that’s clear enough from the work we’ve been doing in the last few weeks since the election.”
The Santander survey was conducted by YouGov between August 12 and September 1. A total of 1,001 UK businesses with minimum £1m annual turnover were consulted.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments