Andrea Leadsom Dismisses Business Concern Over Post-Brexit Border Check Costs In Sky News Grilling

Health Minister Andrea Leadsom dismissed the concerns of small businesses over the added financial strain post-Brexit border checks saying businesses “need to adapt” and that insisting the costs are “no surprise.”

Starting Wednesday, new checks on imports of plants, animals, and food from the European Union are expected to significantly hike costs, threatening the viability of many companies.

In a testy exchange with Sky News host Kay Burley, Leadsom, a leading figure in the 2016 Brexit campaign, was asked about the cost of checks.

“The government has acknowledged that it’s going to cost businesses in the UK an extra £330 million a year,” Burley said.

The minister pointed to free trade deals the UK had been making since leaving the EU: “There are big opportunities from free trade deals. We have huge trading arrangements with the United States. As I say, we’ve signed up to this Trans-Pacific Partnership…”

“It’s not going to help businesses today, though, is it?” the host asked.

Leadsom replied: “Well, actually, businesses always face the cost of doing business. Businesses knew at the time of Brexit that in leaving the European single market, there would be additional checks at the border because by definition we were no longer in that single market. There was no surprise about that.”

She continued: “I understand that today It’s a big news story because it’s something that finally has come home to roost. But the fact of the matter remains that businesses have huge opportunities with other parts of the world, which are the direct benefit of us leaving the European Union.”

After Leadsom accused the media of riling up discontent that the practicality of that has “come home to roost,” the conversation took a poignant turn when Burley brought up the real-world impact on small businesses, citing a florist unable to afford the necessary checks for importing Dutch flowers. Burley asked: “What would you say to her and those like her?”

“What I would say,” Leadsom replied, “I mean, I’ve had many constituency cases over the years of people who’ve changed their trading arrangements with the European Union as a result of different frictions, whether it’s postal costs changing, whether it’s border controls and so on.”

The host interjected: “So don’t buy from Europe, is that what you’re saying?”

“No, I’m not saying that,” Leadsom said. “I’m just saying that businesses need to adapt to meet the changing environment. There are huge opportunities from the rest of the world… Well, I don’t know her particular circumstances.”

Burley highlighted the details: “She can’t afford the flowers and the extra increase that it’s going to cost her to get the checks before she brings them over from the Netherlands.

The minister responded: “There are many parts of the United Kingdom that are flower growers themselves, and there are other parts of the world…”

Burley asked: “So, she shouldn’t die from Europe, that’s what you’re saying?”

Leadsom replied: “I’m not saying that at all.”

“Well, you are,” the host insisted.

“I don’t know her,” Leadsom finished.