BSRIA responds to Brexit white paper

BSRIA has welcomed Thursday’s Government Brexit white paper which sets out 12 key principles and provides further detail.

The important ones to industry are:

• Providing certainty and clarity – as the negotiations are approached.
• Protecting workers’ rights – protecting and enhancing existing workers’ rights.
• Ensuring free trade with European markets – forging a new strategic partnership with the EU, including a wide reaching, bold and ambitious tree trade agreement – seeking a mutually beneficial new customs agreement with the EU.
• Ensuring the UK remains the best place for science and innovation – remaining at the vanguard of science and innovation – seeking continued close collaboration with the UK’s European partners.
• Delivering a smooth, orderly exit from the EU – seeking a phased process of implementation, in which both the UK and the EU institutions and the remaining EU Member States prepare for the new arrangements that will exist between the UK and the EU.

Julia Evans, BSRIA Chief Executive, commented: “BSRIA welcomes the additional facts included in this White Paper focussing on some of members’ and industry’s concerns. It is crucial that industry’s voice is heard loud and clear in the corridors of power – both in the UK and across Europe.

The week before last, BSRIA commented on the ‘Brexit’ Supreme Court judgement calling for clarity and a clear Brexit timetable without months and months of parliamentary obstacles. A smooth and neat exit is crucial.

Industry faces skills and labour shortages, therefore, members and industry will welcome the particular reference that the White Paper makes to science and innovation and the UK being a country that looks to the future. Strength in science is the way forward, along with that of innovation – which will help achieve the ambition of industry.

In this respect, it is critical that industry has access to the skilled and semi-skilled workers it needs to succeed.

To reiterate BSRIA’s position: what industry needs is clear leadership to bring economic confidence and stability, avoiding a disruptive cliff-edge.”