Brexit and the implications for UK business inquiry

In this report we are providing to the House the views of four business sectors we previously examined in this session on the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration. The sectors are aerospace, automotive, processed food and drink, and pharmaceuticals. These sectors are varied in structure, but all are vital to the UK’s future manufacturing success. Their concerns will reflect those of many other sectors that export to the EU. The overwhelming and consistent message from these sectors is that they want certainty. For them, the Withdrawal Agreement provides this certainty, at least for the transition period, and is therefore preferable to the uncertainty and damage associated with the alternative of a no deal scenario. Despite the preference for certainty, there was also a strong consensus that the Withdrawal Agreement would leave them worse off and less competitive than the status quo of EU membership.