UK minister denounces Brexit uncertainty as ‘unacceptable’
British Business Secretary Greg Clark has denounced as “unacceptable” the uncertainty over his country’s departure from the European Union, calling for an end to the delay immediately.
Clark said in London on Tuesday that the conclusion of a deal with the 28-member bloc cannot be left until the last minute before Brexit day, calling for resolving lack of clarity about the trading arrangements that will apply by the end of next month.
“That is, I know, unacceptable to you and it is unacceptable to me. For me it shows how absolutely essential it is to conclude the arrangements with a deal in the weeks to come, not on the last minute on March 28, but as soon as possible,” the British cabinet minister said.
“Because no one should regard waiting to the last moment, when you are making decisions now that have consequences for many weeks and months ahead, as acceptable,” he added.
.@GregClarkMP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, speaking at the conference:
— Make UK (@MakeUK_) February 19, 2019
“Uncertainty about Brexit is unacceptable. We recognise how important a transition period is to our integrated supply chain and just in time production. A deal is needed.” pic.twitter.com/4osFboiutG
Clark also said the Brexit deadlock had created unprecedented problems for UK businesses and stressed that they needed certainty to avoid the “disaster” of a no-deal scenario.
“A situation in which our manufacturers don’t have the certainty that they need about the terms under which over two-thirds of our trade will be conducted in less than 40 days time is unacceptable,” the British Business Secretary said. “It needs to be brought to a conclusion and without further delay.”
Clark added that the decision by the Japanese carmaker, Honda, to close its plant in the British city of Swindon was the result of the Brexit uncertainty.
British lawmakers rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal on January 15, forcing her to seek concessions from the EU that could make the agreement acceptable for the parliament.
The EU has largely ignored May’s demands, especially on a controversial clause on the future of the Irish border.
Officials in Brussels have said they would only be ready to introduce changes to a separate document accompanying the Brexit deal which sets out terms for future EU-UK relations.
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