Small businesses rejoice as experts see a bright future for Britain after Brexit
Entrepreneurs 'never felt brighter' about Britain's economic future as Leave vote brings opportunity
BUSINESSES roared their support for Brexit last night and blasted those who claim a free UK is doomed to fail.
Sneering Eurocrats had insisted there will be tough times ahead after Thursday’s historic vote to leave the EU.
But yesterday a host of entrepreneurs and business owners told The Sun on Sunday they had never felt brighter about our economic future.
They said their suppliers were firmly backing our decision to walk away from Brussels, while traders across the world were desperate to strike new deals because of Britain’s reputation for quality.
Andy Butcher, boss of Alchemy Expo exhibitions company in Cardiff, insisted that he had no regrets over voting for Brexit.
He said: “We are the newest democracy in the world. Last Thursday was historic and we’ve left our children and grandchildren that incredible legacy.
“My outlook has always been global and our biggest clients are in Sri Lanka and New York. They don’t care where we are because all they care about is our service and quality.
“Leaving the EU won’t affect us at all. There’s been so much doom and gloom from some quarters in the last few days, but what we need now is a strong Government and a strong Prime Minister.
“People need to realise this is such an exciting time. There’s so much opportunity. Britain is now the focal point for the world and it’s time to show everyone we’re a democratic free nation intent on free trade. We need to seize the moment.”
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Economists and other experts had issued grim warnings on Friday as the Pound slumped against the dollar and the euro.
It later recovered, but markets across the world tanked as the new era of Brexit dawned.
The weaker Pound means British firms’ exports are more attractive because the cost of goods has fallen.
Confidence among small business owners remains solid.
‘It’s an opportunity to become great again’
Brexit supporter Phil Logan, 57, who owns picture framing workshop and gallery Art and Frames in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, accused the Remain camp of “stirring it up”.
The dad of five added: “Fair enough, the Pound dropped against the euro on Friday, but it wasn’t down by that much by the end of the day.
“The Pound fluctuates throughout the year and it’s not going to affect my trade much or my pricing.
“I do a lot of business with Spain and Italy, but I can’t see governments messing about too much in future. We supply quality goods and services and so do they — and no one wants to lose business with us.
“It’s a lot of scaremongering, to be honest. If you look at who’s stirring it up, it’s all Remain people. You’re not hearing anything from those who trade and voted Out.”
Other business owners were equally optimistic as Britain woke up realising it finally had a ticket out of the EU.
Petra Sales, 32, who runs Asters the Florist in Hampton, South West London, said: “I’m feeling really upbeat. It’s a massive opportunity to celebrate ourselves as a country and become great again.
“All our flowers come through Holland, even those from America or even Kenya, so we have very close ties to the EU. Our suppliers have been very, very positive since the result came in.
“In fact, our suppliers have said the worst case scenario is that it’ll add a penny on to a stem at maximum, which is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
“I think Brexit will bring a lot of opportunity and that people just don’t believe the kind of scaremongering we’ve heard from the likes of George Osborne.”
Traders also spoke of the harmful EU tariffs that have forced them to buy lower quality goods from the Eurozone, rather than being free to cut deals worldwide.
Award-winning baker Geoff Champs has run Champs Bakery for 29 years in Whitstable, Kent. He said business was already booming in the wake of Thursday’s vote.
The 50-year-old told The Sun on Sunday: “I think there are great opportunities. For years British bakers have been forced by EU tariffs to buy European wheat instead of looking to the wider world.
“Any master baker will tell you that the best baking wheat in the world is Canadian wheat. But we aren’t free to buy it because the EU punishes you if you do. And why should we be giving Spain money to grow sugar? What’s wrong with looking to the West Indies and doing trade there?
“Now when we leave the EU, hopefully we can shop around.”
Wine producer Richard Balfour-Lynn, 63, employs 18 people at his Hush Heath estate vineyard in Staplehurst, Kent, and supplies sparkling wine to British Airways.
He insists that Brexit is a real opportunity, adding: “English wine is a growing industry and I hope this will encourage more home-grown sales. If there are import tariffs, then maybe European wine may become more expensive.
“Most of our English wine is sent to America and Japan, so from an export perspective there isn’t any disadvantage.
“We pay the same duty on our wine as other European nations in this country, so I hope Brexit will lead to reduced duty and reduced tax leading to greater sales and a gain to the Government.
“It will give English wine, which is a growing industry, a much-needed boost. We can now control our own destiny.”
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