IFG Publishes UK Not Prepared For Brexit Report

London-based think tank, the Institute for Government (IFG), has warned that the government is running short of time to implement a successful Brexit.

Entitled ‘Brexit: six months to go’, the IFG says the government has left its "no-deal" preparations too late to help many businesses, and in most policy areas it would not be able to avoid damage to the economy next year.

Even if a deal is reached, the IFG says, the proposed 21-month transition period after Brexit - which would expire at the end of December 2020 - does not give enough time to agree and ratify a future trade deal.

At its core, there are three main challenges facing the Government which are highlighted in the report - negotiation, legislation and implementation.

Details of the challenges and an explanation of where the IFG believes the UK is currently positioned in relation to the issues in these areas can be viewed here.

Expert Opinion

“This important research-based report by the authoritative and independent Institute for Government assesses legislative, civil service and business readiness to deal with ‘no deal’ and a ‘negotiated deal with a two year transition period’ scenarios.

“The authors conclude that the UK is not ready for a no deal Brexit and that a negotiated deal with a two year transition period is also a very challenging goal (even if the intended outcomes were known) because of the number of treaties and other arrangements that would need to be addressed – including the European Parliament’s and European Commission’s own mandatory approval processes which are rarely talked about in the UK media. .

“While the report says nothing that is new to anyone who has researched Brexit carefully and kept current on factual developments rather than rhetoric; it does offer a clear, concise and management digestible summary of the current situation and should be essential reading for anyone who wants to have a well-grounded understanding of the factors that need to be faced in coming months.”
Bruce Macmillan - Group General Counsel