Urgently improving the UK's trade links with the EU is the easiest and most effective way to grow the UK economy, campaigners have stressed following reports of private sector expectations of a downturn.
Businesses are reportedly forecasting a slump in economic activity over the next quarter, according to the business lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s Growth Indicator.
Alpesh Paleja, CBI deputy chief economist, said the latest research indicated "persistently weak growth expectations" and highlighted that the "UK economy has not experienced a strong start to 2026", while "recent geopolitical tensions will only have added to uncertainty at the margin".
Naomi Smith, Chief Executive at Best for Britain, said:
“Businesses and the British public have been pummelled for far too long by economic headwinds - damaging international trade, hurting jobs and restricting investment - and this already bleak picture has been made much worse by the UK leaving the EU.
“Firms do need support with energy costs, but the easiest and most effective way to grow the UK economy remains urgently improving Britain’s trade links with our closest and largest market, as voters have long made clear they expect the government to prioritise.”