UK BioIndustry Urges Early Agreement in Brexit Talks Following Surprise Election Outcome

Following the UK's surprise General Election result, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) has vowed to work closely with the new government "to make the UK the third global cluster for life sciences".

CEO Steve Bates commented: “The election has not delivered a Parliamentary majority for a clear way forward on Brexit but both the main parties, as well as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), were clear in the campaign and in their manifestos on the desire to turn the UK into the most innovative country in the world. Our sector is key to taking the UK’s outstanding science base and translating it into economic jobs and growth. Measures to support this goal should attract broad support in the new Parliament."

He added: “Getting the highly complex and technical issues associated with Brexit right is the key priority for our sector... Early agreement on key issues like the regulation of medicines, the regime to enable non-UK nationals to work and contribute to the UK life science ecosystem, trade, finance support, market and intellectual property rules, will be the best way to ensure speedy and continuing global inward investment into the UK and EU. It will also be in the best interest of patients who require access to innovative healthcare.”

See BIA's post-election blog, What does the outcome of the General Election mean for the UK life sciences sector?