PM’s offer to delay Brexit spells further uncertainty for UK construction

The prime minister has pledged that MPs will have three chances to vote on the next stages of the process to leave the EU.

Theresa May promised the House of Commons to hold a meaningful vote on the withdrawal agreement on 12 March. If the deal fails, the Government will ask MPs on 13 March whether they support a ‘no-deal Brexit’. If the House of Commons rejects no-deal, MPs will have the opportunity to vote on 14 March on postponing Brexit until at least 30 June.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) continues to think that the construction industry needs an orderly withdrawal from the EU, ending uncertainty for businesses. Although the prime minister’s announcement could postpone the imminent prospect of leaving without a deal, it does nothing to dispel uncertainty among construction businesses about the future.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “While the prime minister appears to be lining up the votes to make no-deal more unlikely, those pushing for a harder Brexit may just decide to cast their unchanged votes at a later date.

“Far from delivering certainty to thousands of construction companies, the prime minister’s announcement may end up delaying a no-deal Brexit by three months.

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

More tenants enter the rental market

Tenant demand climbs across England in Q1 as rental market pressure builds for letting agents The latest research by The Letting Partnership has found that tenant demand across England remained strong during the first quarter of 2026, with 27.4% of all rental listings already securing a tenant, meaning that the country’s hottest rental markets are…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

7 Ways Estate Agents Can Adapt to a Changing Property Market

The UK property landscape is evolving rapidly, and estate agents are under increasing pressure to implement innovative strategies. With shifting buyer expectations, new technologies, and alternative sales models entering the market, adapting your approach is essential. So, if you’re looking to see success with your agency, here are just seven key ways you can remain…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Spring clean drives high maintenance bill for landlord

The latest market insight from property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, suggests that property maintenance spend is set to surge in April, as the annual ‘spring clean’ by landlords saw the month account for the second highest proportion of total annual maintenance spend in 2025, as well as the largest average spend per work order. Rushbrook…
Read More
Breaking News

65% of homebuyers blame slow process on conveyancers

The latest research from Lyons Bowe reveals that 65% of recent homebuyers say the conveyancing process was the slowest part of their buying process, with a quarter saying the legal back and forth took more than 16 weeks to complete. Lyons Bowe commissioned a survey of 1,000 UK homeowners who made a purchase in the past…
Read More
Breaking News

UK Construction Activity Collapses

Glenigan’s April Construction Index uncovers an industry struggling to cushion the blows from ongoing international conflict and a persistently weak economy. Work starting on-site declined by 17% compared to Q4, remaining 18% below 2025 levels. Residential construction starts dropped by 13% during the Index period and fell by 30% against 2025 figures. Non-residential project-starts dipped…
Read More
Breaking News

Homebuyer demand down in Q1 2026

Buyer demand slips in Q1 2026, with South of England outperformed by North and Midlands The latest Sales Demand Index from eXp UK has revealed that homebuyer demand in England slipped by -1.6% in Q1 2026. The analysis also reveals a clear north-south divide with counties located in the midlands or north of the country recording…
Read More