BORIS Johnson ‘owes it’ to North East companies to address the ‘significant’ problems caused by Brexit, a leading businessman has said.

A survey of the North East England Chamber of Commerce’s almost 2,500 members found three quarters had been adversely affected by leaving the EU and the Government’s own trade statistics have revealed a 37 per cent drop in export and import trade.

Two weeks ago, the chamber’s chief executive, James Ramsbotham, wrote to the Prime Minister detailing the negative impact Brexit was having on firms in the region.

He has not replied, and now another leading businessman, Richard Swart, who runs Berger Closures, which manufactures metal closing rings, has called on Mr Johnson to respond.

The Northern Echo:

Richard Swart 

Mr Swart, who is also chairman of the Advanced Manufacturing Forum, said: “The North East is very competitive on exports and the EU is a major trading partner. It is very significant for us.

“The Prime Minster has visited the North East often enough in the recent past. He often talks about ‘levelling up’.

“I think he owes it to North-East businesses to ‘level up’ on communications over Brexit and the specific concerns raised by James Ramsbotham.”

The NECC asked for the SME Brexit Support Fund to be expanded to allow companies to train more staff and obtain the right equipment to process the new customs responsibilities.

It also wants the Government to act to make it more attractive for people to train to be lorry drivers.

The North East has historically carried out 59 per cent of its international trade with the EU and the chamber said it has stood out as “one of, if not the only, net-exporting region in Great Britain”.

At the time of writing the letter, Mr Ramsbotham said: “Exports are vital to the national economy.

“They are our national income. Damaging the ability of businesses who create wealth for our nation will make this country so much poorer.

“To do so when we are striving to recover from the pandemic, with all of its resulting debt, will burden this nation for decades.

“We encourage the Prime Minister to give this issue his most urgent and personal attention.”

The Northern Echo:

James Ramsbotham 

But a fortnight later, Mr Ramsbotham has not had a reply.

He told the Guardian newspaper: “The real issue is the complete lack of strategic planning.

“From our perspective, there has been none whatsoever.”

Labour MP for North Durham Kevan Jones said effects of Brexit were ‘concerning’ and an ‘unwelcome burden on top of the effects of the pandemic’.

He said: “Much of the additional red tape and disruption to European trade was a predicable outcome of the Government’s decision for the UK to leave the European Single Market.

“The Government now needs to be honest about the continued importance of European trade to regions such as the North East and set out what it is going to do to help businesses.

“Without action businesses and jobs will be at risk.”

Easington MP Grahame Morris said Mr Johnson was failing to deliver on his promises.

He said: “Boris Johnson promised an oven-ready deal to get Brexit done, yet so far, it is North East businesses paying the price for his failure to establish effective trading arrangements with Europe.

“Time and again, the Prime Minister makes big promises but fails to deliver.

“The Prime Minister promise a New Global Britain, but instead we have business struggling, empty supermarket shelves, and a lack of investment.

“Our problem is not Brexit, the problem is Boris Johnson, who is detached from the real lives of people struggling to make ends meet.”

County Durham’s three Conservative MPs have been contacted for comment.

A spokesman for the Government said the letter had been received and a formal response would be issued 'in due course'.

The spokesman said: "We’ve always been clear that being outside the single market and the customs union would mean changes and businesses would need to adapt to new processes.

"That’s why we are ensuring that businesses get the support they need to trade effectively with Europe and to seize new opportunities as we strike trade deals around the world.

“As well as operating export helplines, running webinars with experts and offering businesses support via our network of 300 international trade advisers, we have delayed the introduction of full import controls to give businesses more time to prepare.

“Although the global pandemic continues to affect trade and depress demand, ONS statistics show that goods exports to the EU rose by eight per cent in May.”