The welcome mat....
It is no secret that inward investment in the UK fell dramatically after the Brexit referendum, a trend that Covid has done nothing to help. But following on from last weeks Conservative party conference you have to ask yourself; why would anyone come now?
Lord Frost and the Prime Minister seem determined to tear up the NIP and therefore start a trade war with the EU, which would make the delays and costs at the border with the EU far worse. Then just look at the other signals being sent out by the Tory party, which amounted to “fuck business”.
We don’t care about you or your opinion, you are to blame for all the country’s problems. Stand up to us or even question our claims and we will destroy you.
You will have to pay more for staff who are no more productive or better trained, your access to the EU is in serious doubt, you have no idea what the next government policy will be, oh and your tax bill has just soared. No wonder even Brexit supporting business leaders are aghast.
Luckily for the government there are plenty of other reasons to come to the UK, universities, culture, language etc. But the government is no longer one of them nor does it do much to promote any of those other reasons. Universities in particular need boosting and investing in if they are to maintain their lead and attractiveness.
Golden welcome mats used to laid out for foreign companies investing in the UK, now the government is treating business like a door mat.
Thank heavens there isn’t a huge, efficient, law abiding, welcoming market on the UK’s door step where foreign firms might go instead.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.