Jobs at risk if Brexit deal ignores service industries, Sadiq Khan warns

Sadiq Khan: The London mayor will say Jobs are being put at risk because service industries are being ignored (file photo)
PA Archive/PA Images
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Jobs are being put at risk because the Government is ignoring service industries, Sadiq Khan will warn.

Focusing on the trade of goods at the expense of sectors like financial services, accountancy and the legal profession may seriously damage the economy, according to the London mayor.

Appearing before MPs, he will claim Prime Minister Theresa May "has her priorities all wrong" in the negotiations over Britain's exit from the European Union.

The Labour mayor will tell the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that trade in services accounts for around 40 per cent of UK exports to the EU.

Around 92 per cent of London's economy is made up of the service sector, the same as Manchester, while it accounts for 91 per cent in Edinburgh, 83 per cent in Leeds and 82 per cent in Birmingham.

Ahead of the committee meeting, Mr Khan said: "The United Kingdom has a vibrant services industry responsible for employing more than 20 million people across the country.

"Any deal struck by the Government that focuses just on goods, at the expense of services, could seriously damage our economy.

"The Government's current approach is further evidence, as if we even needed it, that the Prime Minister has her priorities all wrong.

"London is unquestionably the best place in the world to do business. The city is built on strong foundations of innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and a world-class financial hub - and that is not going to change.

"But we are already seeing major banks establishing subsidiaries in other EU countries, or moving part of their business out of the capital because EU law requires them to be legally compliant from the day the UK leaves the European Union.

"If the Government does not change its approach and strike a deal that secures access to the single market for services, this trend will only continue.

"The result will be fewer jobs, less investment and less prosperity the length and breadth of the country."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in