Davey: PM must not jeopardise recovery with no-deal exit
HQ press release #1
Responding to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics out today that show the UK's economy shrank by 20.4% in April, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:
"We face the most serious economic challenge in generations. This is not a time to exit the world's largest market. This is not a time to increase trade barriers. This is not a time to deny business skills they need with a damaging new immigration system.
"Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case for a Green Recovery Plan and policies that back responsible businesses.
"We can create jobs and protect the environment by investing in new, green technologies but we need imaginative new policies and strong political leadership.
"The Prime Minister should not be putting Britain's chances for an economic recovery in jeopardy by insisting on an arbitrary Brexit transition deadline and risking a devastating no-deal."
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HQ press release #2
Govt's refusal to extend transition period risks UK's return to sick man of Europe
Responding to reports that the UK Government has now formally confirmed to the European Union that they will not seek an extension to the transition period, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:
"There seems to be no end to this Government's recklessness. By risking the UK crashing out with no deal, the Prime Minister is also risking shortages in food and medicine, as well as another severe economic hit.
"Any responsible Prime Minister would put people's lives, let alone their livelihoods, ahead of ideology. However, Boris Johnson's pigheaded refusal to extend the transition period will see the most vulnerable in our country suffer the most.
"With the UK already struggling due to the coronavirus crisis, it is beyond belief that the Government are determined to add the consequences of Brexit to the list of the problems our country is currently facing. The refusal to extend the transition period shows that under this Government the UK risks a return to being the sick man of Europe."
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