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Friday 17th August
Mayor steps up London’s preparations for ‘catastrophic’ no-deal Brexit
• ‘Crashing’ out of EU without a deal now more likely than ever
• Sadiq will work with London’s business community to determine what advice and support they need to prepare for no-deal Brexit
• Ministers ‘recklessly’ refusing to provide guarantee to EU Citizens in no-deal scenario putting workforces and families in danger
• Mayor asks London’s Resilience Forum to establish no-deal impact on capital’s access to medicines, energy, food and emergency services
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today stepped up City Hall’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit, amidst growing concerns that the chances of the UK ‘crashing’ out of the European Union are higher than ever.
Sadiq also criticised the lack of Government advice and support for businesses who need to make plans now for managing the “chaos” of a no-deal Brexit.
In order to address this, the Mayor is consulting with London’s business community over the next few months to determine exactly what support they need from the Government, and identify where City Hall can step in to fill the gap that has been left.
One of the biggest threats faced by businesses is the grave uncertainty for their European employees in a no-deal Brexit scenario, as the current offer of ‘settled status’ is entirely dependent on successful negotiations with the EU.
Sadiq called the Government’s refusal to provide a guarantee to EU Citizens “utterly reckless”, and called on the Prime Minster to “do the only sensible and humane thing” and extend the offer regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
Sadiq has also asked the London Resilience Forum, the partnership responsible for ensuring London’s preparedness in the event of emergencies, to establish the impact of a no-deal Brexit on critical areas such as access to medicines, energy and food, as well as the ability to maintain emergency care, law and order.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Government has completely mishandled the Brexit negotiations and been held hostage by the hard-Brexit zealots in Parliament. Even Ministers now admit that crashing out of the EU with no deal is now more likely than ever. If the Government had taken a different approach to the negotiations this would never have been an option, but we are now left with no choice but to plan for a no-deal scenario.
“It is vital that businesses get the advice and support they need to start planning for the chaos of a no-deal Brexit now – before it’s too late. Whilst Ministers continue to drag their feet, I am consulting widely across London’s business community to determine exactly what support businesses need from Government - and to identify where City Hall can step in and fill the gap being left by the Government.
“The biggest threat facing businesses is the growing chance that they could lose their European employees. The Government’s current offer of ‘settled status’ relies on a successful outcome of the Brexit negotiations. If talks were to break down, the three million EU citizens living in the UK, around one million of whom are Londoners, would have no guarantee that their rights to stay and work would be protected.
“People born in the rest of the European Economic Area make-up a hugely important part of London’s workforce. They account for approximately 750,000 jobs in London’s economy. They make up 32 per cent of jobs in our construction sector, 32 per cent of jobs in hospitality and tourism, and 11 per cent of health and social jobs.
“London has already seen a sharp fall in levels of immigration since the EU referendum, while the number of long-term migrants leaving the capital has continued to rise. Businesses regularly report the difficulty they face in getting the talented workers they need, and to now threaten the Europeans they currently employ is completely and utterly reckless.
“I am calling on Theresa May to do the only sensible and humane thing and extend the offer of settled status to EU Citizens currently living in the UK now, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
The London Resilience Forum
The London Resilience Forum oversees the work of the London Resilience Partnership, setting the strategy and objectives for resilience and preparedness for emergencies in London. The Forum and Partnership represents more than 170 organisations ranging from the emergency services, local authorities and the NHS to utility and transport providers. The Forum is chaired by Fiona Twycross, the Deputy Mayor for Fire & Resilience.
London Immigration Statistics
Sector Percentage of jobs in London filled by rest of EEA nationals
Primary and Utilities 12%
Manufacturing 16%
Construction 32%
Wholesale and motor trades 12%
Retail 11%
Transportation and storage 11%
Accommodation and food service activities 32%
Information and communication 14%
Financial and insurance activities 12%
Real estate activities 10%
Professional, scientific and technical activities 12%
Administrative and support service activities 18%
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 6%
Education 11%
Human health and social work activities 11%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 7%
Other service activities 13%
• Net migration to London was last at the 2017 level in 2013.
• This fall in net international migration (31,000) was the biggest contributing factor to the reduction in London’s rate of population growth in the year to mid-2017, ahead of an increase in domestic outmigration from the city (up 13,000).