All political parties must work together to deliver Brexit

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) believes that the House of Commons needs to work in the national interest to deliver Brexit.

This is in response to the European Council granting the UK an extension to Brexit until 31 October 2019. This means that the UK will remain a member of the EU for at least another 203 days and will have to hold elections to the European Parliament on 23 May 2019.

This is the second extension request granted by the EU, which became necessary after the Government was unable to get the withdrawal agreement approved by the House of Commons on three separate occasions.

The NFB has already expressed how leaving the EU without a deal could damage the UK construction industry more than the financial crisis of 2008, when 250,000 construction jobs were lost.

While the short-term danger has been averted, this further extension does nothing to dispel long-term business uncertainty in the construction industry and the economy at large.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “Brexit uncertainty cannot go on forever and we need all parties to set aside political differences and deliver a withdrawal agreement that restores certainty to the construction industry, to the country and our standing on the world stage.

National Federation of Builders

The National Federation of Builders is a United Kingdom trade association representing the interests of small and medium-sized building contractors in England and Wales.

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