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| Brexit: 'Horrified' firms warn time is running out | Brexit: 'Horrified' firms warn time is running out |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British businesses have criticised politicians for focusing on in-fighting rather than preparing for Brexit, warning that there is not enough time to prepare for a no-deal scenario. | British businesses have criticised politicians for focusing on in-fighting rather than preparing for Brexit, warning that there is not enough time to prepare for a no-deal scenario. |
| With 100 days to go before the UK leaves the EU, the groups say firms have been "watching in horror" at the ongoing rows within Westminster. | With 100 days to go before the UK leaves the EU, the groups say firms have been "watching in horror" at the ongoing rows within Westminster. |
| The cabinet met on Tuesday to ramp up preparations for a no-deal departure. | The cabinet met on Tuesday to ramp up preparations for a no-deal departure. |
| But the groups say the idea that "no-deal" can be managed is not credible. | But the groups say the idea that "no-deal" can be managed is not credible. |
| In other Brexit developments: | In other Brexit developments: |
| In a joint statement, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, manufacturers' organisation the EEF, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors said: "Businesses have been watching in horror as politicians have focused on factional disputes rather than practical steps that business needs to move forward. | In a joint statement, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, manufacturers' organisation the EEF, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors said: "Businesses have been watching in horror as politicians have focused on factional disputes rather than practical steps that business needs to move forward. |
| "The lack of progress in Westminster means that the risk of a no-deal Brexit is rising." | "The lack of progress in Westminster means that the risk of a no-deal Brexit is rising." |
| The government said on Tuesday that it had sent letters to 140,000 businesses, urging them to trigger their no-deal contingency plans as appropriate. | The government said on Tuesday that it had sent letters to 140,000 businesses, urging them to trigger their no-deal contingency plans as appropriate. |
| It will also distribute 100-page information packs on Friday. | It will also distribute 100-page information packs on Friday. |
| The five business groups, which represent hundreds of thousands of UK firms, said that because of a lack of progress, the government "is understandably now in a place where it must step up no-deal planning". | The five business groups, which represent hundreds of thousands of UK firms, said that because of a lack of progress, the government "is understandably now in a place where it must step up no-deal planning". |
| But they say: "It is clear there is simply not enough time to prevent severe dislocation and disruption in just 100 days. | But they say: "It is clear there is simply not enough time to prevent severe dislocation and disruption in just 100 days. |
| "This is not where we should be." | "This is not where we should be." |
| Contingency planning | Contingency planning |
| The business groups said that instead of investing money and boosting productivity, companies were now having to divert capital for no-deal contingency planning. | The business groups said that instead of investing money and boosting productivity, companies were now having to divert capital for no-deal contingency planning. |
| They also warned: "There are also hundreds of thousands who have yet to start - and cannot be expected to be ready in such a short space of time." | They also warned: "There are also hundreds of thousands who have yet to start - and cannot be expected to be ready in such a short space of time." |
| James Stewart, head of Brexit at accountancy firm KPMG, said that while there has been intense client activity around Brexit in the last few weeks as the UK heads towards the 29 March departure date: "There is still a long tail of businesses that haven't done nearly enough, including many businesses who haven't even spoken to their employees about what lies ahead." | James Stewart, head of Brexit at accountancy firm KPMG, said that while there has been intense client activity around Brexit in the last few weeks as the UK heads towards the 29 March departure date: "There is still a long tail of businesses that haven't done nearly enough, including many businesses who haven't even spoken to their employees about what lies ahead." |
| He added: "Even more worrisome are the few remaining very big businesses that have done next to nothing." | He added: "Even more worrisome are the few remaining very big businesses that have done next to nothing." |
| A spokesman for the prime minister said that with just over three months until the UK leaves the European Union, "we have now reached the point where we need to ramp up these preparations". | A spokesman for the prime minister said that with just over three months until the UK leaves the European Union, "we have now reached the point where we need to ramp up these preparations". |
| Businesses should also be prepared, "enacting their own no-deal plans as they judge necessary". | Businesses should also be prepared, "enacting their own no-deal plans as they judge necessary". |
| Eight areas | |
| The European Commission is publishing the legislation needed to ensure continuity in eight sectors on a temporary basis. | The European Commission is publishing the legislation needed to ensure continuity in eight sectors on a temporary basis. |
| Those areas cover data protection, plant and animal health, customs, climate policy, some narrow financial products and the rights of British people living in the European Union. | Those areas cover data protection, plant and animal health, customs, climate policy, some narrow financial products and the rights of British people living in the European Union. |
| If there is no Brexit deal, these will apply from 29 March until the end of 2019 at the latest. | If there is no Brexit deal, these will apply from 29 March until the end of 2019 at the latest. |
| The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March after a referendum in 2016. | The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March after a referendum in 2016. |
| It and the EU have agreed a withdrawal agreement - or "divorce deal" - and a political declaration outlining ambition for future talks - but it needs to be agreed by Parliament for it to come into force. | It and the EU have agreed a withdrawal agreement - or "divorce deal" - and a political declaration outlining ambition for future talks - but it needs to be agreed by Parliament for it to come into force. |
| A vote by MPs on the deal had been scheduled for 11 December, but Mrs May postponed it until January after it was clear her deal would be rejected, leading to widespread anger in the Commons. | A vote by MPs on the deal had been scheduled for 11 December, but Mrs May postponed it until January after it was clear her deal would be rejected, leading to widespread anger in the Commons. |