Thursday 28 March 2019 12:01 am | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 1:01 am

UK business body chief to attack politicians over ‘dereliction of duty’

The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) will today warn the UK’s political leaders that Britain leaving the European Union without a deal would be “a flagrant dereliction of duty”.

Adam Marshall will use his keynote speech at today’s BCC Annual Conference in Westminster to express a deep frustration with the UK’s political leaders and their handling of Brexit.

Marshall has headed the BCC, which represents 53 accredited chambers of commerce from across the country, since 2016. He will use his platform to warn that shortages brought about by no deal “could affect the well-being and the jobs of many people” and cause “mass disruption to businesses and communities”.

Politicians have focused on “tactics, not strategy” and “politics, not prosperity”, he will say. “No one would run a business like this, and it is no way to run a country.”

Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Monday that a no-deal Brexit would not happen without the approval of MPs, who have previously voted against such an outcome.

However, if MPs vote down May’s deal for a third time should it again come in front of the house, then it is possible that the UK will leave without a deal on 12 April if another deal cannot be agreed.

Marshall will say that such an outcome would be “deeply irresponsible”, when he speaks today at the BCC conference, which will also feature speeches by shadow Brexit minister Kier Starmer and Dave Lewis, group chief executive of Tesco.