{
  "id": 9081371,
  "title": "Brexit has held back investment for a generation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/brexit-has-held-back-investment-for-a-generation",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T04:08:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/brexit-has-held-back-investment-for-a-generation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Brexit has impeded investment for an entire generation in Britain, according to Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat business spokesperson. For much of the past decade, the UK has been grappling with inconsistent conditions for strong, investment-led growth. Despite boasting world-class universities, robust capital markets, and a wealth of innovative companies, the economic environment for investors has often been unpredictable due to chaotic Conservative governments, complex regulation, and long-term competitiveness concerns.\n\nTo unlock Britain's investment potential, the country must create a stable tax environment, ensure regulatory clarity, foster dynamic capital markets, and develop a long-term growth strategy that supports businesses from early-stage innovation to global scale. At the heart of this challenge lies the economic impact of Brexit, which has created substantial bureaucratic hurdles in trade with Europe. Small businesses, vital to local communities and the national economy, have been disproportionately affected by this red tape.\n\nOlney asserts that for Britain to be seen as a gateway for international expansion, it is crucial to streamline trade with the European Union. Joining the single market and establishing a new customs union are essential steps in this direction. Investors yearn for stability, with predictable regulatory frameworks and secure trade flows. By reestablishing economic ties with Europe, ensuring smoother cross-border trade, harmonizing key regulatory standards, and collaborating on global innovation, the UK can eliminate the uncertainty that has hindered investment for generations.\n\nAs Liberal Democrats convene in Brighton for their autumn conference, Olney's message to the business community is clear: private capital can stimulate prosperity, bolster regional productivity, and create high-skilled jobs of the future. To unleash this tremendous growth potential and position Britain as the premier destination for investment, the government must expedite economic relations with European partners.",
  "summary": "An “Investable Britain” requires a stable and competitive tax environment, regulatory clarity, dynamic capital markets, and a long-term growth strategy capable of supporting companies from early-stage innovation through to global scale, says Sarah Olney For much of the past decade, the UK has been left struggling to sustain strong, investment-led growth. We have much to [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}