With Theresa May (pictured) confirmed as the new Prime Minister, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on her to focus on small businesses.
David Cameron is expected to hand over the reins on Wednesday (July 13).
“The Government must act decisively to secure our long-term economic stability after the decision to leave the EU,” said FSB national chairman Mike Cherry. “Immediate action is needed to improve small business confidence and allow them to reliably plan ahead for the future.
“The new Prime Minister will decide the UK’s approach to EU negotiations, and she must ensure that smaller firms’ interests are taken into account – simple access to the single market, the ability to hire the right people, continued EU funding for key schemes and clarity on the future regulatory framework.”
The FSB also called for strong negotiations for EU nationals that own small businesses or are employed by small businesses to be allowed to remain in the UK during and after negotiations.
He added: “We also call on Theresa May, as the new Prime Minister, to guarantee non-UK EU nationals, many of whom run their own small businesses or are employed by small businesses, to be granted the right to remain in the UK both during the negotiations and thereafter – and to use the negotiations to ensure that UK small firms and the self-employed who work in the EU can continue to do so.
“With business confidence at an all-time low, Government must get back to business on the many vital issues which had been put on hold during the EU referendum campaign and subsequent fallout. These include key infrastructure projects like airport expansion, HS2, energy security and the Northern Powerhouse, as well as delivering on business rates pledges and changing plans for quarterly tax returns.”
