Boris must hit the ground running

Boris Johnson has been elected as leader of the Conservative Party and will officially take over as prime minister on 24 July. The former mayor of London has promised to take Britain out of the EU by 31 October 2019 with or without a deal.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) congratulates Boris Johnson on his victory, but cautions him that, regardless of the eventual shape of Brexit, the country and the economy need certainty above everything else.

From EU citizens’ rights and climate change to the housing crisis and late payment which is crippling the construction industry, the new prime minister must enable change and avoid getting stuck by trying to solve one problem at a time.

Nick Sangwin, national chair of the NFB, said: “We wish Boris Johnson well but he needs to hit the ground running. Brexit uncertainty must be dispelled so that businesses can get on with planning their own futures. Deal or no deal, the EU settlement scheme and proposed immigration reforms need immediate reform or we risk leaving millions of our EU friends behind.”

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “We implore the new prime minister to give more attention to our domestic despairs. With no end in sight to the housing crisis, this country needs radical planning reform. We must also eradicate the scourge of late payment and reform outdated procurement practices so that our hard-working SMEs and regional contractors can propel Britain’s economy into prosperity after Brexit.”

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.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Almost one in five first-time buyers seeking max 60% LTV mortgages

Almost one in three (31%) first-time buyers are opting for 90% LTV mortgages, and a further 10% are looking at 95% LTV options. This hints at many first-time buyers relying on 5-10% deposits. This translates to £13,650 to £27,300 at the average UK house price of £272,995 [source]. Almost one in five (17%) first-time buyers…
Read More
Breaking News

Property values bounce back in October

The latest Halifax Property Index shows that: – House prices rose by +0.6% in October vs a fall of -0.3% in September Fourth time in last five months that the average price has increased Average property price now £299,862, edging up to a new record high Annual rate of growth rises to +1.9% (up from…
Read More
Breaking News

UK house prices rise at fastest pace since January

House prices rose by +0.6% in October vs a fall of -0.3% in September Fourth time in last five months that the average price has increased Average property price now £299,862, edging up to a new record high Annual rate of growth rises to +1.9% (up from +1.3% in September) Mortgage approvals reach highest level…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove accelerates AI product delivery to surface more potential sellers and buyers for agents

The UK’s largest property platform Rightmove is today announcing a series of AI developments for consumers and partners, to help agents reach more potential sellers, buyers and renters. There are currently 27 AI initiatives in development, as Rightmove makes AI technology central to its platform to benefit partners and home-movers. Four new developments – two…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

How to Pick the Best Option for your Business’ Broadband

Having a dependable broadband connection is crucial for any business. Whether you run a small office or a larger company, a slow or unstable connection can disrupt work, affect communication, and reduce productivity. Picking the right broadband package does not have to be complicated, but it does require careful thought about your business’s specific needs…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England Hold’s Interest Rates at 4%

With the Bank of England holding Interest Rates at 4%, here are some thoughts from the Industry. Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgages expert: “Ahead of one of the most widely anticipated and discussed Autumn Budgets of recent times, it was unlikely the Bank would go for another interest rate cut so close to the announcement and…
Read More