Business leaders in Northern Ireland have called for stability amid the developing crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol today.

Industry experts have urged the UK government to pursue a more holistic approach to investment in manufacturing, including a nationally sustained programme and long-term strategy, to prevent the sector from becoming a “brain drain” for talent.

Responding to the ONS October trade statistics, Alison Williams, member of the UK Trade and Business Commission and Global Head of Data at DunnHumby, said:

A commission of MPs and business leaders have been warned that triggering Article 16 would turn Northern Ireland into a "backwater" of foreign direct investment, jeopardising businesses, harming consumers and discouraging people in Great Britain from trading with Northern Ireland.

Research experts and charities working with people with serious and often terminal illnesses have said that delays to research and clinical trials from Brexit could mean the difference between ‘life or death’ for patients.

Responding to Keir Starmer’s speech at the CBI annual conference, Peter Norris, Chair of Virgin Group and Co-Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

At a session of the UK Trade and Business Commission today, travel industry leaders have warned that the future of the UK outbound travel sector is at risk if the Government fails to agree a Youth Mobility Visa with EU partners enabling young people to develop the skills and experience needed for the industry in the coming years.

Responding to news that Amazon will no longer accept UK visa credit cards citing increased costs since Brexit, Tamara Cincik, from the cross-industry, cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission said,

Responding to the news that the UK’s Brexit losses are more than 178 times bigger than trade deal gains, Hilary Benn MP, Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said

New analysis shows that replacing the EU trade lost since 2018 with trade from other countries could increase annual emissions from shipping to and from the UK by 88%.

Responding to comments from the Office for Budget Responsibility that Brexit would have double the negative impact on the UK economy compared to the pandemic, Hilary Benn MP, Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Responding to the news that the UK has agreed a trade deal with New Zealand in principle, Hilary Benn MP, Chair of the cross-party, cross industry UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Responding to the disappointing UK trade figures for August 2021 from the ONS, Hilary Benn MP, co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission said:

Responding to the announcement that the EU will bring forward new proposals on the NI Protocol next week, Claire Hanna, South Belfast MP, who sits on the UK Trade and Business Commission said:

Ministers from the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales have said the UK government has undermined devolution in agreeing new trade deals which impact devolved issues and in by passing the UK Internal Markets Act.

Members of the cross-party, cross-industry UK Trade and Commission have called on the government to act quickly to address ongoing crises in the UK labour market and supply chain before they are made significantly worse by current global energy shortages.

The cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission of MPs and business leaders has published recommendations to improve the government’s Brexit deal which continues to cause serious problems for people and businesses including the ongoing supply crisis.

Responding to revelations that the UK Government is preparing to drop key climate commitments in their negotiations with Australia on a new trade deal, Caroline Lucas, member of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission and Green Party MP said:

The acute supply issues plaguing Britain are set to continue according to industry experts who today warned of a “very challenging” Christmas among longer term consequences as the supply chain faces a “perfect storm” of problems.

New figures reveal that the government has paid out just a third of the money set aside to help businesses cope with the increased bureaucracy and costs resulting from the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.