Today Theresa May will embark on five days of debate and then take what could be described as the most significant vote most of us will ever witness, to parliament on December 11. With that in mind, it is alarming to see that currently the TV channel her proposed live debate with Jeremy Corbyn is broadcast through, and who’s on the panel, top of many political agendas.
The outcomes of Brexit will shape every aspect of life in the UK for decades to come and as such, especially at this critical stage in the process, every final detail needs to be clearly understood. The political debate should therefore surely focus the minds of all on what is being voted on.
Understanding Brexit in anything approaching full detail, is more than a challenge for anyone. If the effects of the Brexit options/choices are then factored into the equation, we think Garry Kasparov would struggle with a strategy.
More than two and a half years after the referendum result, where throughout that period nothing has eclipsed Brexit in the political landscape, the country seems as split as it was on Thursday 23 June 2016. The same can also be said of both main political parties, and the smaller parties hold firm to their fixed lines, so collectively we are not much if any further on.
It seems inconceivable, but it is possible, that come 11pm UK time on Friday, 29 March 2019 the debate will still be in full flight.
What is certain is that business does not like uncertainty and leaving the European Union with no agreement, or only a vague real agreement in place will deliver even more uncertainty. The uncertainty will focus on the UK, from non UK economies and businesses to our detriment.
The Bank of England last week stated that a ‘disorderly Brexit’ could push the UK towards the biggest slump in modern memory. The Bank of England was then at pains to say that it only presents scenarios, not forecasts, ‘what could happen, not necessarily what is most likely to happen’. Lots more theory and options open for even more interpretation.
The reality of Brexit is that it is already impacting significantly on business through uncertainty, and at some point, that uncertainty has to come to an end, doesn’t it?
It will be interesting to see and hear what the two ‘leaders’ of our main political parties have to say when they do debate the issue on TV. Which channel we watch this on, in the general scheme of all things Brexit, doesn’t seem to be the BIG issue to us.
So, to avoid the ongoing stalemate does the best option available now, need to be actioned now?
Many issues and challenges face our own industry and knowing what Brexit will be taken is needed to formulate solutions to meet them.
Will hospitality and catering businesses have continued and essential access to the migrant workforce required to maintain and grow our industry? If not, hospitality and catering businesses will need to recruit and train new people to enter our industry in numbers that have never been attempted before.
The decision it seems to us now is, do we continue debating or do we get on with making the most of the best deal available?
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