FOLLOWING last night’s devastating loss for Theresa May, a Wiltshire business group has called on politicians to end the Brexit deadlock.

The Federation of Small Businesses has issued a response to Parliament’s rejection of the Government’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

Ruth Lambert, development manager at FSB for Somerset and Wiltshire, said: “It is time for politicians to come together and urgently find a way forward from this alarming Brexit stalemate, and now, no-confidence vote.

“The UK is due to leave the EU in just ten weeks, and yet businesses still have no idea what kind of circumstances they should prepare for. Many small businesses would be adversely impacted by a chaotic no deal exit.

“It is vital that there is a transition period, to give smaller firms time to adapt to whatever the final outcome turns out to be.”

The firm claims that Small business confidence has plummeted to its lowest point since the wake of the financial crash.

Confidence among small firms in the South West has fallen once again standing at -13.6 in Quarter four of 2018, down from -6.2 in the previous quarter, according to the latest SBI.

Almost half expect performance to worsen over this quarter, and it is expected that 70 per cent are not planning to increase capital investment, and over a third see lack of the right skills as a barrier to growth.

Ms Lambert added: “That’s what political uncertainty does to business, it makes it impossible to plan, innovate and expand.

“The South West’s talented entrepreneurs are adept at finding innovative solutions when overcoming challenges in their businesses. It’s time for politicians to show that kind of innovation, flexibility and can-do spirit to end the impasse and bring some certainty that there will be both time and support to plan for the future during a transition period.”