As the Prime Minister looks set to attempt to get Brexit legislation through the House of Commons once again this week the food industry’s main body is urging caution.
Ian Wright CBE, chief executive, Food and Drink Federation, said: “Everybody has had enough of the Brexit debate. It is, though, vital that we didn’t allow the fact that the nation is exhausted to mean we sleepwalk into mistakes that will haunt the UK economy for a generation. We welcome the Letwin amendment. The most urgent priority for the food and drink industry has been to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU on 31st October 2019. The Letwin amendment does that job.
“We welcome more time to scrutinise the new Brexit deal and the legislation designed to enact it. We must also make sure the implementation period is adequate to pass the necessary UK legislation and for businesses to fully adapt. It is important that all of the consequences – including the damaging loss of frictionless trade and regulatory divergence with the EU that the new deal heralds – are properly understood before MPs make their decision.”
