M&S is renting a warehouse just to store post-Brexit documents, boss reveals

Marks & Spencer had to rent a warehouse just to store piles of Brexit-related documents that no one looked at in the first place, the retailer's chairman has revealed.

Archie Norman, who is also a former Conservative MP, said it was quite extraordinary that you wouldn't believe it but the retailer had to store thousands of pages of documents in a warehouse in the Republic of Ireland for six years after transporting food products across the country. border.

And, lambasting the devastating financial impact of Brexit on the beloved British business, Mr Norman called on Sir Keir Starmer to strike a deal with the EU on food standards to get rid of all these ridiculous restrictions on trade .

open image in gallery

Speaking to Times Radio last Friday, Mr Norman said: In Ireland, our food business there is a good business, but we don't make much money from it because of the border controls.

It's not just the 700 pages of text, we have to keep all the documentation that accompanies our wagons to the Republic of Ireland for six years in a warehouse.

So we rented a warehouse to store these pieces of paper that no one looked at in the first place. I mean, you wouldn't believe it, but it's pretty extraordinary.

The striking intervention comes amid an attempt by the prime minister to reset Britain's relationship with Europe after Brexit. Sir Keir is seeking closer ties with the bloc, but has so far refused to spell out exactly what he wants to achieve in negotiations with EU leaders.

Mr Norman increased pressure on the Prime Minister to secure a veterinary deal, which would see the UK and EU recognize that their food standards are equivalent, cutting red tape which prevents M&S and d other companies to sell in Europe.

open image in gallery

He said: The aim should be to respect all these rules regarding (the) customs union and not to re-enter the EU, but to see if we cannot agree with the European Union that that our food standards are equivalent and therefore we can get rid of all these ridiculous rules. frictional trade restrictions that prevent us from trading food; a food that everyone enjoys between the EU and the UK.

Mr Norman also said Brexit had forced M&S to pull out of Paris, where it was previously probably the biggest sandwich retailer.

He said: Before Brexit, we had a fairly large fresh produce business in and around Paris in France, which brought us around $7 million a year. It was a successful and growing business, very popular in Paris, probably the largest sandwich retailer in Paris, a good thing for Britain.

We had to close it because it was simply not practical to get our fresh produce through French customs controls in time to put it on the shelves. So there is definitely a negative of 7 million.

Mr Norman's intervention also comes after it emerged Brussels was preparing to ask the UK to respect EU laws for the first time since Brexit, as part of its plans for a new deal with the United Kingdom.

Although Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted that the UK will not re-enter the single market in his lifetime, he has pledged to make Brexit work by renegotiating the deal struck by Boris Johnson and by pursuing closer cooperation, particularly in the areas of defence, security and trade.

open image in gallery

A template for EU negotiators reviewing the trade deal, seen by The Times, indicates EU leaders are considering making the UK's acceptance of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice a red line for a trade relationship improved.

The document would also outline UK fishing concessions and a youth mobility program as key priorities for the EU.

The document is expected to be presented to a council of EU ministers next week, ahead of the start of formal negotiations between the UK and the EU which begin early next year.

Sir Keir and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to hold regular summits between EU and UK leaders, with the first due to take place in early 2025.