Tuesday 11 October 2016 7:29 pm

City minister reassures financial services sector it will get a seat at the Brexit negotiations table

The City minister has today moved to reassure the financial services sector that it will be accounted for in the Brexit negotiations.

Speaking at a conference in London, Simon Kirby said: "We are going to keep on doing what it takes to see the UK's financial services industry remain a world leader."

Kirby also urged those working in the sector to make their wishes for the Brexit deal clear, adding that retaining the UK's title as a top financial hub was an "absolute priority" for government and the sector was "hugely important to the British economy".

"My message to you today is to keep talking to us, to keep sharing your views, and to keep working with government in this spirit of constructive collaboration," he said.

The financial sector has been somewhat concerned lately about how it will be treated in the upcoming negotiations.

Reports emerged last week which suggested Prime Minister Theresa May was not willing to give the industry any special treatment and was also not keen on providing for a transition period, something which many in the sector had called for to make sure the UK can leave the EU with as little disruption to business as possible.

Kirby today noted government would "push for a solution that means an orderly transition" for the financial services sector.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Conservative party conference last week, Brexit minister David Davis added to financial sector fretting when he revealed there would be one all-encompassing Brexit deal rather than mini-deals for each sector. He did, however, promise to find a solution to passporting rights.

Earlier this month, a report from TheCityUK found a so-called hard Brexit could result in up to 75,000 job losses, along with as much as £38bn in lost revenue.