CBI humiliated after leaked emails reveal what business chiefs say in public on Theresa May’s Brexit deal is not what they say in private
BRITAIN's biggest business group was humiliated last night after leaked internal emails revealed they've gone cold on Theresa May's Brexit deal.
The Confederation of British Industry's Brexit boss described the draft trade agreement with Brussels unveiled by the PM yesterday as “not a good deal” in a memo mistakenly sent to ITV News.
It laid bare the contrast in the CBI’s public and private verdict on the final Brexit arrangements negotiated by Mrs May.
It came just three days after the boss of the business group, which represents 190,000 firms, hailed the draft agreement. The CBI had campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU’s single market and customs union permanently but reluctantly backed Mrs May’s deal on Monday. Brexiteers have long criticised the CBI for being too pro-EU and have branded the group the “voice of Brussels”. Their private criticism of the PM’s deal delighted Leave campaigners last night.
On Monday CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn said of the PM’s deal: “It's not perfect, it's a compromise, but it's progress. It takes us back from the cliff edge, avoids no deal, charts potential path to future frictionless trade deal. That is progress, we should not go backwards."
And her deputy Josh Hardie yesterday said Britain was “on the cusp on a much-needed agreement” after the Government published the 26-page Political Declaration, which outlines our future trading relationship with the EU.
The document sets out a series of aspirations but lacks any legal grounding and is short on detail – in contrast with the 585 page Withdrawal Agreement, which is legally binding.
Mr Hardie said: “This shows that a deal can be done and businesses across the continent will be watching this weekend's EU Summit closely.”
He added: The progress made is a credit to both sets of negotiators. But hard work lies ahead“.
But the private emails revealed the CBI was actually scathing of the PM and her negotiators and argued over whether they should be publicly praising them given it wasn’t a good deal.
The CBI’s Head of EU Negotiations Nicole Sykes sent an internal email arguing that there was “no need to give credit to negotiators I think, because it’s not a good deal”.
The CBI’s Head of News Chris Grummett replied saying: "Have left the credit in given we ‘want’ this to go through”.
The quotation marks suggest serious doubts.
It is also embarrassing for the Prime Minister, who sold her Brexit deal at the CBI annual conference on Monday – urging voters to “listen to what business is saying.”
Pro-Brexit and pro-Remain campaigners jumped on the CBI’s gaffe last night.
Former Tory MP and ex-Brexit advisor Stewart Jackson said: “Speaking with forked tongue for their own short term narrow interests? You could knock me down with a feather.”
Labour MP Wes Streeting, who backs a second referendum, said: "Despite the CBI's public support, it is clear that even the Government’s biggest business backers think this is a bad deal for Britain.
"There is no support in Parliament, among business or in the country for a deal which takes away control and makes people poorer.”
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