Hilary Benn MP will stand down from his position as co-convener of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission with immediate effect after being confirmed as the new Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

A new survey of more than 3,000 firms released by the Department for Business and Trade today found that three out five now think that free trade deals will have no impact on their business, including half of all firms exporting.

The Prime Minister has been told to urgently clarify government advice to manufacturers after an announcement by the Department for Business and Trade has caused even greater uncertainty on what markings they are required to use on their products.

As recommended by the UK Trade and Business Commission, the Government has indefinitely delayed plans to introduce a new UK product safety mark.

Today the Irish government confirmed that they will provide permanent funding to allow students in Northern Ireland to access the Erasmus+ scheme.

Today the ONS confirmed that in the year to June 2023, inflation in the UK was 7.9%, remaining the highest of any G7 economy.

Today the government has relaxed visa requirements for overseas builders, carpenters and people working in the fishing industry amid widespread labour shortages prompting calls for a system overhaul.

Government assessment suggests the deal may only grow the UK economy by 0.08% but requires the UK to drop key environmental commitments as part of the deal including those aimed at reducing the production of palm oil, a key driver of deforestation in Asia.

Responding to the latest ONS GDP figures which showed the UK economy shrank by 0.1% last month, Layla Moran MP, member of the cross party UK trade and Business Commission said,

Responding to the signing of a new UK-EU memorandum of understanding for greater cooperation on financial services, Hilary Benn MP, Co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

The UK Trade and Business Commissions has published a comprehensive assessment of the state of UK trade containing 114 recommendations to remove barriers to growth and prepare the UK economy for the challenges and opportunities of the next decade.

Responding to confirmation that the new Australia and New Zealand trade deals will come into effect this month, Layla Moran MP, member of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission, said

Queens University Belfast has published new polling, which indicates a strong majority of voters in Northern Ireland support the Windsor Framework.

Responding to the announcement that the UK Government has reached an agreement to join the CPTPP) Caroline Lucas MP, member of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

This week, the UK Trade and Business Commission sent a letter to the Government urging them to restart negotiations for the UK to rejoin the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme without delay.

Hilary Benn MP, Co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

“This agreement, for which our Commission has long advocated, shows what can be achieved by putting aside old disagreements and working in good faith to provide stability and certainty.

New analysis by the UK Trade and Business Commission (UKTBC) reveals that the UK’s most valuable fintech companies have been more badly impacted by staff layoffs in the past year, compared to their EU based counterparts.

Responding to the ruling made by the Supreme Court today that the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful, Hilary Benn MP, co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Responding to reports that the UK and EU have reached an agreement on the impasse on the Northern Ireland Protocol, Hilary Benn MP, Co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said: