Manufacturing industry leaders across Europe have today (Monday) called on EU and UK negotiators to agree an early, time limited, transitional arrangement for business in the Brexit negotiations.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable said:

“Liam Fox said getting a trade deal with the EU would be the ‘easiest in human history’. The government has woefully underestimated the scale of the task before it and the lack of any significant breakthrough in  talks is the proof of this.

“Manufacturers and industry across the EU need guarantees, but the government is increasingly heading for a no deal Brexit that will badly damage us for decades.

“A transition is at least better than no deal, but it must be a transition to a deal that effectively keeps the UK within the single market and customs union.”