'It is NOT difficult!' Business boss TEARS into claims UK business will suffer post-Brexit
BREXITEER businessman John Mills hit back at claims that UK business will suffer after Brexit – insisting trade outside of the European Union “isn’t that difficult”.
Mr Mills told Sky News he thinks there will be “some” disruption caused by Brexit but said it is “easy” for business leaders to “exaggerate” how much disruption will be caused as a result of leaving the European Union.
The JML founder and chairman said the level of disruption caused by Brexit will overall be “pretty small”.
He said: “I built up a company over the years which moves 2000 containers roughly from one place to another all over the world – about 80 percent on WTO terms.
“So I’m very familiar with what it is like to have to trade on a sort of free trade area type basis. It isn’t that difficult.”
Mr Mills said it is “very easy to exaggerate” that Brexit will be bad for Britain.
Getty•Sky News
It's very easy to exaggerate
He said: “I think it is very easy to exaggerate what they are actually going to be. We were told that it was going to cost £20billion not very long ago in extra cost for paperwork.
“I must say, my experience is that it is going to be a tiny fraction of that.”
HMRC estimated the cost of having to complete customs paperwork on businesses to be £32.50 per shipment. Exports from the UK to EU each year amount to around 200 million so it would bring the total costs for UK firms would be £6.5billion each year.
At the time of the announcement, Mr Mills hit back at the claims and insisted it is “not rocket science” and can be resolved.
In June this year, aerospace giant Airbus also announced they would consider relocating from the UK should the Government fail to secure a Brexit deal with Brussels.
BMW suggested it could move its production of new election mini to Germany from Oxford as a result of Brexit.
Peter Bone, the Tory MP for Wellingborough branded the suggestion "Project Fear number 3", claiming it would not be convenient for Airbus to leave the UK.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Bone said: "This is Project Fear Number 3, isn’t it?
"I mean, Airbus did this before the referendum, then after the referendum, they actually said their future was in this country. Of course, it is.
"All the skilled workers they have here, in fact, I think they said they’re the best they have got in the company. Why on Earth would they relocate?"