CBI responds to The Queen's Speech

Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said:

“The Queen’s Speech commitments to kick start the economy and deliver a Brexit that protects the prosperity of the whole of the UK can be a catalyst for rebuilding confidence and investment. To make 2020 the decade of delivery, this now needs to translate into bold action.

“Firms are desperate to deliver the investment and growth needed to level up the country. The burden of business rates weighs too heavily on many sectors - a review into them must be consultative, ambitious and wide ranging.

“To realise the true potential of enterprise in the UK, action is needed on many fronts. It was good to hear warm words on the situation in Stormont, immigration, innovation, education, infrastructure and the critical issue of de-carbonising our economy. Now the Government needs to work with business to deliver the detail.

“The Prime Minister can have confidence that business is up for the challenges ahead. To make this Queen’s Speech a real Christmas present for the country, it’s time to bring together all the investment, skills and creativity of the public and private sector and get to work.”