Reynolds dismisses EU split with Burnham after warning of business ‘uncertainty’
UK trade chief previously warned that constant "constitutional questions" cause "a lot of uncertainty for business."
The U.K.'s Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, has reaffirmed his support for Andy Burnham's efforts to strengthen ties with the European Union, despite previously expressing concerns about the potential for business uncertainty. In a recent interview with POLITICO at the Labour conference, Reynolds acknowledged that revisiting Brexit-related matters, such as rejoining the EU's customs union, would introduce "a whole range of alignment on regulatory issues" and generate "a lot of uncertainty for business."
However, when asked if Burnham's focus on the European issue is contributing to this uncertainty, Reynolds stated he does not disagree with the Prime Minister. He reiterated his party's manifesto position of seeking to enhance trade relationships with other nations, but also acknowledged that the question of the U.K.'s future relationship with the EU will remain relevant over the next decade, emphasizing his desire to minimize uncertainty for British business.
Burnham is scheduled to participate in a U.K.-EU summit in Brussels on November 20, where he aims to address specific concerns arising from the current Brexit agreement, but the summit is not anticipated to delve into broader issues concerning the U.K.'s broader relationship with the EU.
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