UKHospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls, said: “The hospitality sector has historically proven resilient and innovative, but the unprecedented confusion and uncertainty since the referendum has provided stern tests with no relief seemingly in sight.
“A no deal Brexit would be dreadful news for the sector and many businesses will face serious disruption if we crash out without a deal. Parliament needs to move to rule out such an outcome and then act swiftly and decisively to ensure we avoid it.
“In the meantime, and at the very least, all other business needs to be put on hold as a matter of urgency. We need to devote our time to addressing the challenges a no deal Brexit is inevitably going to produce and there just is no option of doing business as usual.”
The Food and Drink Federation’s chief executive, Ian Wright, added: “Tonight’s result is another body blow for the country and the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. As we teeter on the brink of the cliff edge, just seventeen days’ away, confidence in our political leaders is almost gone.
“We can only hope that members of Parliament, tomorrow and on Thursday, will vote decisively - and act accordingly - to take a 29 March ‘no-deal’ exit off the table. We now need breathing space in which a clear way forward can be found.”