Brexit has held back investment for a generation
An “Investable Britain” requires a stable and competitive tax environment, regulatory clarity, dynamic capital markets, and a long-term growth strategy capable of supporting companies from early-stage innovation through to global scale, says Sarah Olney
For much of the past decade, the UK has been left struggling to sustain strong, investment-led growth. We have much to boast about, from our world-class universities, deep capital markets, and an extraordinary pipeline of innovative companies, but the conditions required to scale businesses at pace have too often been inconsistent.
But uncertainty from chaotic Conservative governments, a complex web of regulation, and long-term questions around competitiveness have, at times, made the UK a less predictable environment for investors than it should be.
The question, therefore, is how the UK can make the most of its strengths, and create the conditions that make it the most attractive place for that capital to be deployed.
An “Investable Britain” requires a stable and competitive tax environment, regulatory clarity, dynamic capital markets, and a long-term growth strategy capable of supporting companies from early-stage innovation through to global scale. But above all, we cannot make Britain more investable without confronting the elephant in the room: the economic damage of Brexit, and the mounting barriers it has erected between us and our biggest economic partners.
For too many British businesses, trade with Europe has become a maze of red tape, creating quite literally billions of pieces of extra paperwork. Small businesses which are central to our local communities, and critical to our national economy, have felt this burden most acutely. If we want global investors to view Britain as a launching pad for international scale, it is absolutely essential that we have frictionless trade with our nearest and largest market. Forging much deeper ties with the EU by joining the single market and a new customs union is an essential next step.
Investors crave stability. They seek markets where regulatory frameworks are predictable and trade flows are secure. By rebuilding our economic bridges with Europe, securing smoother cross-border trade, aligning on key regulatory standards, and collaborating on global innovation, we can eliminate the lingering uncertainty that has held back investment for a generation.
As Liberal Democrats gather this week in Brighton for our autumn conference, our message to the business community is clear. We believe in the power of private capital to spread prosperity, boost regional productivity, and create the high-skilled jobs of tomorrow. And to unleash that immense growth potential, to make Britain the best place in the world in which to invest, we have to turbocharge our economic relationship with our European partners.
Sarah Olney MP is Liberal Democrat business spokesperson