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UK facing ‘national emergency’ on Brexit: business, unions
LONDON, March 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Britain faces a “national emergency” as
the risk of a no-deal Brexit rises, business and union leaders warned in an
open letter to embattled Prime Minister Theresa May.
The heads of Britain’s biggest employers’ grouping, the Confederation of
British Industry, and union umbrella organisation the Trades Union Congress,
urged May to change tack and find a “Plan B” to avert the country leaving the
European Union without a deal.
“Our country is facing a national emergency. Decisions of recent days have
caused the risk of no-deal to soar,” read the letter from CBI director-
general Carolyn Fairbairn and TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady.
“Firms and communities across the UK are not ready for this outcome. The
shock to our economy would be felt by generations to come,” added the pair,
who have demanded an “urgent meeting” with May.
The grim warning, contained in a rare coming together of two organisations
usually at odds with one another, comes as May meets the other 27 EU leaders
in a Brussels summit to plead for a three-month postponement to Brexit.
The premier has already asked EU President and summit host Donald Tusk for
the withdrawal date to be moved to June 30 from March 29.
However, EU leaders are likely to refuse her request, leaving Britain
vulnerable to departing from the bloc with no trade deal in place.
May’s Brexit deal has twice been resoundingly rejected by British
lawmakers, and a third vote the premier hoped to hold this week was cancelled
by the House of Commons speaker on procedural grounds.
“The current deal-or-no-deal must not be the only choice,” added Fairbairn
and O’Grady in their joint letter.
“A ‘Plan B’ must be found — one that protects workers, the economy and an
open Irish border, commands a parliamentary majority, and is negotiable with
the EU.
“A new approach is needed to secure this — whether through indicative
votes or another mechanism for compromise,” they added.
“We cannot overstate the gravity of this crisis for firms and working
people.”
BSS/AFP/ARS/2026 hrs