Anne seeks City assurances post-Brexit

11th October 2016

Yesterday in the House of Commons, Anne Main sought assurances that London and the UK will maximise free trade opportunities with Europe while tapping into growth markets around the world, and asked how St Albans residents can feed into the Brexit process. 

Following the June referendum, Anne met and had discussions with constituents.  Many wished to see a mechanism whereby local residents and businesses could have a direct input into the Brexit decision-making process, in order that the government is aware of how leaving the European Union may affect them.   

Mrs Main said in the chamber that,

‘[h]alf of St Albans’ economically active population works in London, and many of them work in financial services and the knowledge-based economy. What conduit can they have to input into the process through which we are now going, and what assurances can he give me that London and the UK will maximise free trade with Europe while tapping into the growth markets around the world?’

The Brexit secretary, David Davis, responded by saying that,

‘London is a massive global city and an extraordinarily successful one. We will do everything necessary to protect, defend and enhance that success in the markets that my hon. Friend mentioned—in the financial services, the digital markets and the intellectual markets. We are looking at all of them right across the board. She should tell her constituents who want to have an input into the process that they should go through their trade organisations or come directly to the Department to tell us where there concerns are and where they think the opportunities are and we will take their comments on board.’

After her question in the chamber, Anne said that ‘I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to raise this matter in the House.  I was heartened to hear that there would be conduit into the department so constituents could make their views known.  

‘I believe that if we have this level of expertise and knowledge feeding into the system then we will have the best outcome for the country.’ 

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