Redefining the UK’s relationship with the EU

The leaders of the major United Kingdom business representative organisations, British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry, EEF , Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors issued a joint statement on the 17 June 2017 just as the formal Brexit negotiations were due to begin on the 19 June 2017 between the EU and the United Kingdom.

The leaders urged the UK government to put the economy first as it prepared to start formal negotiations. Commentators interpreted the letter as a call for a soft Brexit and mirrored similar calls by other organisations, devolved government leaders and commentators following the inconclusive general election in the UK on the 8 June 2017.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 18.06.17: Big business leaders press Theresa May to rethink hard Brexit https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/17/business-pressure-may-hard-soft-brexit-eu-single-market

Politico, 18.06.17: UK business leaders call for a softer Brexit http://www.politico.eu/article/uk-business-leaders-call-for-a-softer-brexit/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

BBC News, 18.06.17: Business bodies come together in call for softer Brexit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40318285

ESO: Background information: A cross-party committee of the Privy Council should be established to seek consensus on the terms of Brexit (UCL: Constitution Unit, June 2017, et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-cross-party-committee-of-the-privy-council-should-be-established-to-seek-consensus-on-the-terms-of-brexit/

ESO: Background information: Manufacturers call for Brexit strategy rethink http://www.europeansources.info/record/manufacturers-call-for-brexit-strategy-rethink/

Blog: Open Europe, 22.06.17: Deloitte study finds that the German car industry would be severely hit by a ‘no deal’ Brexit http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/deloitte-study-finds-german-car-industry-severely-hit-no-deal-brexit/

IfG: Newsletter, 23.06.17: The options for the UK’s trading relationship with the EU https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/brexit-explained/brexit-explained-options-uk%E2%80%99s-trading-relationship-eu

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 23.06.17: Britain's Key Task Is to Achieve a Soft Transition to a Hard Brexit https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/britains-key-task-achieve-soft-transition-hard-brexit

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