Tories' Brexit and immigration plans worry business

Business leaders in the UK have reacted cautiously to the ruling Conservative Party's general election manifesto, published on Sunday.

David Sapsted

25 November 2019

While there has been general disappointment at postponement of the promised reduction in corporation tax next year from 19 to 17 per cent, it is – almost inevitably – the subject of Brexit that remains businesses' primary concern with the Conservative Party's general election manifesto.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised to "get Brexit done" by withdrawing the UK from the European Union (EU) on January 31, but company bosses fear too little has been done to prepare for a trade agreement with the bloc by the time the transition period expires at the end of next year.

Confederation of British Industry

Businesses are also anxious to know what form the UK's new immigration system, based vaguely on an "Australian-style points system", will take when Brexit ends freedom of movement from the EU27 nations.Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), says that while businesses would be heartened by a pro-enterprise vision, they would also be looking for even more ambition in areas such as access to skills, infrastructure and reaching net-zero carbon emissions.“But the inconvenient truth remains: sustainable economic growth will be risked if there is a needless rush for a bare-bones Brexit deal that would slow down our domestic progress for a generation," he says.“The National Skills Fund could make an important contribution to the significant upskilling efforts needed in the coming years. It needs to be delivered in partnership with business and come hand-in-hand with a detailed new immigration system that gives access to the full range of skills and labour the economy needs.“Significant investment in local infrastructure will drive growth and reduce regional inequalities. To get the UK moving, the next government must match it with unequivocal backing for key projects like HS2 and Heathrow."

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The manifesto includes a range of practical actions to put the UK on the path to net-zero, from electric vehicle charging networks to energy efficiency in homes. But Hardie adds that “it could go further by backing onshore wind and a new financing model for nuclear power.“On Brexit, firms need the certainty of a closely aligned, frictionless relationship with the EU. The stability provided by transition is a vital first step, but it cannot be a Trojan horse for a bad deal."

British Chambers of Commerce

Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, says that while the manifesto "strikes some of the right notes", businesses would like to see more substantial measures to boost growth, enterprise and investment.On Brexit, Mr Marshall says there is a big difference between ‘getting Brexit done’ and doing it right. "The details matter to both businesses and communities – and the Conservative Party needs to be realistic with the electorate about the scale and complexity of the task ahead," he says."Categorically rejecting the possibility of a longer transition period is a real concern, because it means businesses could face yet another damaging cliff-edge at the end of 2020."While Mr Marshall welcomes such manifesto commitments as improved skills training, road maintenance and childcare, he says that businesses need much more clarity on "big-ticket items" such as infrastructure projects and how the UK’s future immigration system would work in practice.He also warns, “Big pledges to increase spending and freeze personal tax rates cannot be paid for on the backs of hard-pressed businesses. Higher business taxes or costs would undermine confidence and investment at precisely the time that it is needed most."

Institute of Directors

Edwin Morgan, director of policy at the Institute of Directors, says that there is much to like in the manifesto as far as issues such as skills, infrastructure and research were concerned, where there is a "desperate" need to help businesses invest.But he adds, “When it comes to Brexit, business will only feel it is ‘done’ when they know the terms of the new relationship with the EU, not before. There is still a long way to go, and the next government must put the needs of the economy first when negotiating on matters relating to trade and market access.“Business leaders will still want to see value for money from the Conservative spending pledges, and there are some concerns this is turning into a big-spending election, but Tory plans are still well lower than the massive expansion being advocated by Labour.”