New polling shows British companies losing faith in Brexit benefits

A new survey of more than 3,000 firms released by the Department for Business and Trade today found that three out five now think that free trade deals will have no impact on their business, including half of all firms exporting.

A YouGov poll for The Times also suggested that the public are yet to see any Brexit benefits on the economy. It also indicates that 61% of voters think that Britain’s departure from the EU made the country worse off, compared with 10% who think it is better off and 20% who think it made no difference.

When assessing Britain’s relationship with the EU, 53% of those asked think that the UK should have a closer relationship with the EU than the Government’s present Brexit deal, compared with 22% who are in favour of the current arrangement.  

Tamara Cincik, Founder and CEO of Fashion Roundtable and member of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said: 

“The reality is that these trade deals are not good for the UK. They undercut British industries, trash UK standards and fail to make up for trade we have lost with the EU; a high price to pay for next to no impact on economic growth.

“British businesses have been sounding the alarm; it's time the government listens and establishes a UK Board of Trade to scrutinise new and existing trade deals to ensure that all future trade deals protect British businesses while boosting growth and opportunities.”