British Prime Minister Theresa May has hinted that she would pursue a transitional arrangement with the EU to soften the blow for U.K. business after Brexit.
The comments came at a Monday conference organized by lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as May seeks to win back business support following critical rhetoric she deployed in several set piece speeches.
Asked if she would seek a transitional deal, usually understood to mean that Britain would come to a relatively close temporary arrangement with the rest of Europe that would apply until a longer-term trade deal could be reached, May said: "I understand the point... that people don't want a cliff edge—they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward."
"That will be part of the work that we do in terms of the negotiation that we are undertaking with the European Union," May added.
Such a deal is desirable for many businesses, who fear that without one the U.K. could end its two-year Brexit negotiation period without fully developed trade arrangements, leading to sudden and steep barriers coming into force to trading with the continent.
But the pro-Brexit right of May's party favors as quick and clean a break with Europe as possible.
May also tempered earlier remarks where she had appeared to promise that British workers would be represented on company boards.
In a speech to her Conservative party's annual conference last month, May said the country would see "not just consumers represented on company boards, but workers as well."
But speaking to the CBI Monday, May said: "While it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on boards."
May's predecessor David Cameron and his chancellor George Osborne saw a smooth relationship with businesses as a top priority for their administration. May's focus on cutting immigration and her combative rhetoric about cracking down on business malpractice have threatened to erode some of the trust her party had built up.
But the Institute of Directors (IOD), another industry lobby group, said after May's speech on Monday that "IOD members will be significantly reassured by this speech."
"Theresa May's proposals on employee representation in boardrooms, for example, shows she is plotting a pragmatic course," it added.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Josh is a staff writer covering Europe, including politics, policy, immigration and more.
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