黑洞社区

Theresa May began her much-awaited Brexit speech on Tuesday by saying that the country voted to leave the union 鈥渨ith its eyes open鈥�. But given the unknown quantity of any Brexit deal, not to mention the odd unhelpfully misleading slogan emblazoned across a bus, even the most die-hard leave campaigner would have to acknowledge there was a fair amount of uncertainty as to what a post-EU Britain would look like.

May鈥檚 speech, however, offered the clearest picture yet of what that is shaping up to be. An exit from the single market 鈥� but a possible reciprocal customs agreement with the union, and greater emphasis on wider international trade. EU law enshrined in British law 鈥� until parliament decides otherwise. Control of immigration from Europe 鈥� but guarantees over the rights of EU citizens already living here. And an attempt to agree phased implementation of changes with EU leaders, to avoid a 鈥渃liff edge鈥� for business.

May said the government does not want a 鈥渉alf in, half out鈥� agreement; yet the 12 objectives she outlined do, in several areas, sound suspiciously like a balancing act. Nonetheless, that approach should attract relief rather than ridicule: it鈥檚 a welcome dose of common sense from a political leader in a world that, as this Friday鈥檚 inauguration ceremony over in the US shows, is in danger of feting personality and grandstanding above all else.

Realistically, whatever May had said on Tuesday, she would have drawn vocal criticism from both those wanting a full-blown, end-all-contact divorce from the EU and those who refuse to reconcile themselves to the outcome of the vote. But where exactly in the broad middle ground she has drawn the line is worth close examination.

For the construction industry 鈥� those who trade in products in particular 鈥� the explicit withdrawal from the single market is likely to cause concern.

Although only 20% of construction products used in the UK are imported, 61% of these come from the EU, according to the Construction Products Association. Over time, of course, the UK could seek to develop greater internal capacity; but one key function of these imports is that they act as a buffer in periods of rising demand while UK product manufacturing capacity increases.

If restrictions are placed on this trade, prices will inevitably rise, and it will take longer for the industry to respond to periods of high demand 鈥� which increases the chances of any downturns being prolonged. May says she wants 鈥渢he greatest possible access to the single market, on a reciprocal basis鈥� 鈥� for construction, the significance of the terms of that deal cannot be underestimated.

The other crucial aspect of any Brexit deal for construction is over immigration controls, and how these affect the availability of both low-skilled and skilled construction workers in the UK. Here, May gave little detail, but at the same time as insisting that the UK should have complete control over the number of people that come to the country from the EU, she also alluded to the general need to 鈥渇ill skills shortages鈥� and attract 鈥渋nternational talent鈥�.

With these huge questions still very much to be resolved, perhaps the point made by May that will resonate most with the industry is that it is in 鈥渘o one鈥檚 interest for there to be a cliff edge鈥� as the UK withdraws from the EU. The prime minister鈥檚 desire to agree 鈥減hased implementation鈥� of the UK鈥檚 final Brexit terms could make a huge difference to a sector which will need to overhaul its business models and skills programmes in order to achieve the growth that will enable it to deliver the UK鈥檚 pressing built environment needs.

But for that transitional period 鈥� and a final deal 鈥� to work for the industry rather than undermine it, the government needs to much better understand the implications of the once-in-a-generation deal it is imposing on the sector. For that reason, this week 黑洞社区 is calling on our readers to about your priorities for the sector in the negotiations ahead (see pages 24-26). The survey, part of our 黑洞社区 a Better Brexit campaign, will be used in the House of Lords to inform scrutiny of the government鈥檚 proposals, providing a voice for the industry in parliament.

For the industry to avoid that cliff edge, I urge you to 鈥� and help us to help construction make itself heard.

Sarah Richardson, editor