FSB members meet with MPs and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

FSB members met at Woods Restaurant for a round table meeting with Greg Clark MP for Tunbridge Wells and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 

Addressing the businesses, Greg said he thought that, ‘there’s enough information available for a Brexit agreement now’. Looking back over previous international negotiations, Greg told the room that they ‘often go to the wire’ but that he was working with colleagues in Parliament on a clear agreement with a broad enough idea of future trading. Hearing local business views, he agreed that negotiations had gone on far too long. 

Fran Boorman, Chairing the meeting, stated that delays and uncertainty are down to ‘politics, not businesses – and we want to get back to business.’ Nick Frank of Adler and Frank said: “UK politicians need to grow up. People are fed up with them playing silly games – we want to get on with our lives.’

Sir Michael Fallon MP met with Sevenoaks members at Ibbett Mosely’s High Street offices (pictured above). Topics covered in the one hour meeting included taxes; train and road networks; stamp duty; Brexit negotiations; skills shortages and business rates. 

Tim Peters of Tim Peters Installation Engineering highlighted the unfair business rate relief requirements, which do not take into account businesses on industrial estates. Darrel Linehan-Dumont of My Careers Options said: “It was good to hear directly from Sir Michael on these topics and to explain issues facing us on a daily basis.”

Upcoming MP round table events include:
15 February        Gordon Henderson MP, Sittingbourne
1 March               Kelly Tolhurst MP and Minister for Small Business, Rochester
1 March               Helen Whately MP, Faversham
8 March               Damian Green MP, Ashford         
15 March             Tom Tugendhat MP, Tonbridge

To reserve your place at an MP Roundtable book via the link or email Sarah.Lilly@FSB.org.uk indicating which event you would like to attend.