John Baron MP welcomes CBI opposition to Transition Period extension

MP says EU and supporters of delay should note CBI comments

On Newsnight yesterday evening, the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, stated that her organisation and many British businesses oppose an extension of the Transition Period, on the grounds that this will ‘magnify uncertainty’. ‘Most businesses still recognise the value of getting to a conclusion’, she added.

John said,

“This is a welcome contribution from the CBI, which strongly supported ‘remain’ in 2016, stating that 950,000 jobs could be lost, and which at times has struggled to accept the result of the referendum. I hope the EU and those in the UK supporting an extension of the Transition Period will take note of the CBI’s words – businesses on both sides of the Channel need certainty.”

“As it is strongly in the interests of both the EU and the UK, I continue to believe that a good free trade agreement is the best and most likely conclusion of the negotiations. However, progress in the talks will be greatly improved once the EU starts treating Britain like any other independent country and begins negotiating seriously along the lines of an ‘off the shelf’ agreement similar to the one it agreed with Canada.”