Friday 1 September 2017

LCCI says abstract financial settlement is not the answer

Chief Executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Colin Stanbridge today commented on reports that Brexit negotiations had stalled over a "divorce" bill.

He said: "We certainly can't linger over negotiations, and we know that business confidence has been hugely impacted by uncertainty.

"However it would be naïve to suggest that merely handing a sizeable sum of money over to the EU will solve all the issues facing the future of the British economy.

"We still have to urgently address the issue of guaranteeing the status of current EU workers and ensuring that we have the skills and the capacity going forward.

"We need to look at non-tariff barriers at borders.

"We also need to push ahead with vital infrastructure projects such as the third runway at Heathrow, Crossrail 2 and HS2.

"None of these matters will be solved by an abstract financial settlement."

ENDS

Media Contact
Katharine McGee
T: +44(0)20 7203 1897
M:+44 (0)7827 241528
E: kmcgee@londonchamber.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the capital's largest and most representative business organisation, with members ranging in size from multi-national companies to SMEs and sole traders.
2. Chief Executive of LCCI, Colin Stanbridge, is available for interview.