Trade unions and business leaders in the north west have spoken of the need to protect jobs and industry from the economic uncertainty caused by the vote to leave the EU.
The TUC and CBI have released a joint statement saying the Government to do ‘everything possible to secure jobs and investment’ following the EU referendum that saw victory for the Leave campaign.
TUC North West Regional Secretary Lynn Collins said: “With the economic recovery finally starting to take hold in our region, the North West needs economic stability.
“So it is essential that the government acts quickly to address the current economic uncertainty caused by the vote to leave the EU.
“Employers and workers have shared concerns about what Brexit might mean for jobs, skills and wages. The government must ensure that our local industries have the support they need to weather any Brexit storm.
“And there must be public investment available to keep the North West economy growing and to invest in our future infrastructure needs.”
And the he Director of CBI North West, Damian Waters, added: “The outcome of the referendum means that it is now more important than ever to push ahead with the Northern Powerhouse and growing the North West economy.
“Securing the right skills, delivering educational excellence and improving connectivity is vital.
“To support this growth across the region, the government must act quickly to reassure EU nationals living and working here that they are a vital part of our community.”
The full joint national statement by the TUC and the CBI states:
“Following last week’s vote, it is essential that the Government does everything possible to secure jobs and investment, and to reassure workers worried about the potential implications for employment and social protections, as well as the impact on their working lives.
“This is not a job for the Government alone. It will require a national effort from businesses large and small, trade unions, the Westminster government and devolved nations, and a wide range of stakeholders at local and national level.
“As a matter of urgency, Government needs to act to allay the concerns of EU nationals living and working in the UK, and UK citizens living and working in the EU.
“It’s clear that the overwhelming majority of the UK public – whether they voted to leave or remain – would be appalled by the reported upsurge in racially motivated incidents and hate crimes we have seen over the past few days.
“We urge employers, unions and others to do all they can to bring together our communities in what are uncertain times, making our workplaces a beacon of inclusion and tolerance.”