14
March
2019
|
18:28
Europe/London

City Corporation responds to vote to extend Article 50

Parliament has tonight voted to request an extension to Article 50. Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, said:

We welcome Parliament’s decision to request an extension to Article 50 in order to avoid leaving the European Union without a deal on 29th March, and now urge the EU to be pragmatic in agreeing to this measure. But any extension is not a silver bullet on its own. There remain deep, underlying problems that need resolving.

“Even if we avoid one catastrophic cliff edge later this month, we should be wary of another just around the corner. Government must now provide clarity on what an extension means in real terms so that a solution can be found swiftly to break the current deadlock within the required timeframe, enabling business to get the certainty it needs to thrive.

“The clock is ticking. Further delays will mean households and businesses remain hostage to the crippling economic uncertainty that has already plagued them since the referendum.”

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk