Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Brexit boost: High Street will THRIVE post-Brexit say business chiefs

Instead of causing chaos and uncertainty, experts say the country’s smaller businesses, start-ups and depleted high streets will be revived when Britain walks away from the EU. Pro-Brexit business group the Alliance of British Entrepreneurs have argued breaking from the EU will open up opportunities for British businesses. 

An Alliance of British Entrepreneurs (ABE) spokesman told Express.co.uk: “Brexit gives UK businesses the opportunity to influence and mould the business environment they operate in to help them thrive.

“How fantastic that local businesses will once again be able to speak to their MP and see meaningful changes to revive our high streets and help start-ups thrive. 

“Entrepreneurs are the engines of our economy and should be nurtured and rewarded rather than strangled at birth by multinationals who are worried about their market share and have a direct line with the European Commission.” 

Statistics show Britain’s high streets have been facing a shocking decline.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRCX) shows high streets were the worst affected shopping area, with a fall in shoppers of 4.5 percent, compared to a 0.1 percent rise last June. 

While almost 2,500 stores disappeared from the UK’s top 500 high streets last year, 40 percent more than the number of closures in 2017. 

The ABE claims just five percent of British business export to the European Union, despite all companies needing to comply with their laws. 

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The ABE spokesman also said members of the group found it easier to sell their services outside the single market, despite widespread claims its withdrawal would be severely damaging to the UK. 

Launched in 2018 after the widely publicised unveiling of the Chequers proposal, the group is made up of business owners who advocate for British independence and trading on WTO terms. 

The group campaign for the abandonment of Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement which they say would mean British interests would be ignored.

The comments come just days after a series of business leaders demanded an independent review into a no deal Brexit after a leaked Government report on Britain’s future post-October 31. 

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The report called of shocking delays for lorries at the border which could lead to food shortages across Britain. 

James Hookham of the Freight Transport Association branded the situation as a massive concern, but the ABE has hit back at the scaremongering. 

The ABE spokesman also told Express.co.uk: “Hilariously some seemingly respectable reports have based their predictions on the principle that post Brexit there will be no trade with the EU at all. 

“That no goods will move, no services will be sold, that everything will just stop. 

“In an internet age and in a world with deeply complex supply chains and long term procurement contracts that is plainly utter nonsense.”

Many worst case scenarios have warned of lengthy disruptions, with last year’s Government no deal scenario predicting delays of up to six months on some imports. 

But the ABE hit back at the claims, predicting there would only be a small bump in the road before things would return to normal. 

The group’s spokesman said: “If there is a disorderly, ‘no deal Brexit’, we would expect one to two quarters of disruption before normality resumes. 

“We believe this is a tiny price to pay for the upside of an independent trade policy, an independent judiciary and control of our own regulations and rules.”

While the ABE doesn’t actively participate in politics, the group praised new leader Boris Johnson. 

The new Tory leader has vowed to leave the EU with or without a deal to win back trust in democracy. 

Warnings were sent to European chiefs last week, with the Prime Minister reiterating his hardline position to Emanuel Macron as the two leaders met in Paris just days ago.

The ABE spokesman said: “Boris is saying a lot of the right things. He has helped to provide more certainty that we will leave on October 31 and Number 10 is starting to connect with business again, ensuring they are prepared for whatever comes their way. 

“He rightly sees Brexit as a huge catalyst for change in every aspect of national life rather than a damage limitation exercise.”

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