We need a HARD BREXIT: JCB boss brands EU’s single market ‘HARMFUL for British business’

GETTY

The chairman of JCB has said EU red tape means the single market is not fair

Lord Anthony Bamford, chairman of manufacturing giant JCB, said yesterday “hidden barriers” such as EU red tape “proves that this single market has not created a level playing field”.

He urged the Government to secure an exit deal that would allow Britain to become a “truly global trading nation”.

• 

  JCB boss proves that Brexit would not hurt business

• 

  Michael Gove admits UK cannot meet migration targets ‘while in EU’

GETTY

Lord Anthony Bamford told Parliament Britain could become a ‘global’ trading nation

Lord Bamford, also a Conservative peer, told Parliament: “I want British business to get behind the Government.

“We need the Government to secure an exit deal that is in Britain’s best interests.

“A deal that will allow us to become a truly global trading nation.

We need the Government to secure an exit deal that is in Britain’s best interests

Lord Anthony Bamford

“If tariffs are the price we have to pay to leave the EU, well so be it.”

He added: “British business people are very adaptable. They adjust very quickly to changes in the trading environment.

“So rest assured they would take tariffs in their stride. If tariffs are the price we have to pay to secure free trade agreements with the rest of the world, I think it’s a price worth paying.”

JCB, which made a profit of £300million last year, quit the anti-Brexit Confederation of British Industry earlier this month over its pro-EU stance.

And Lord Bamford’s demand to the Government comes amid a flurry of developments that prove Brexit doubters wrong.

GETTY

Car manufacturer Nissan announced it would expand its Sunderland plant yesterday

Japanese car giant Nissan announced last night it would carry out a significant expansion of its Sunderland plant, which is set to build two new models.

And Government figures revealed Britain had defied Project Fear and outstripped pessimistic GDP predictions put forward by the Remain campaign.

The Office for National Statistics released numbers showing the economy grew at a rate of 0.5 per cent in the three months after Britain’s decision to cut ties with Brussels.

While this is slower than the 0.7 per cent in the previous quarter, it beats the 0.3 per cent suggested by pro-Europe analysts.