It is news to no one that Britain’s high streets have been struggling for some time. Boarded up windows, fewer independent shops, and a general loss of vibrancy have been a fixture of contemporary Britain. Whilst there are, of course, many factors at play from the rise of online shopping to COVID-19, one factor is constantly underplayed: Britain leaving the EU.

This week Best for Britain published research into the economic impact of closer EU-UK alignment, which also accounts for external factors including new tariffs imposed by the US. While we have been encouraged by the reception this work has received, from parliamentarians, commentators and the public, some commentators have questioned not only the validity of the exercise, but the justification for taking it on in the first place.

For years, British businesses have faced unnecessary costs, delays, and red tape when trading with our largest market: the European Union. Since Brexit, regulatory divergence has added friction and uncertainty, stifling investment and pushing up costs for consumers. But a major new study by Frontier Economics, commissioned by Best for Britain, has revealed a clear path to boosting the UK economy—closer regulatory alignment with the EU.

The UK Trade and Business Commission will host an event in Parliament today to officially launch landmark new research on the economic impact of UK-EU regulatory alignment.

Just over a month after GPSR regulations became enforceable, what is the Governments advice on how small and medium sized businesses can best comply with the new EU regulation?

 Today, hidden from the icy January cold inside the Capitol, Donald Trump becomes the 47th President of the United States. The President is riding on a high, fresh from hosting a rally for his supporters on Sunday where he promised to bring down inflation, bring back jobs to America and impose tariffs on competitors around the world. But whilst Trump may be insulated from the cold today, how might the UK’s economy fare when exposed to an increasingly protectionist United States? 

Mutual Recognition Agreements of Conformity Assessments (MRCs) might sound a bit technical, and in a lot of ways they are. But they are also pretty important, especially when it comes to economic growth and the ongoing UK-EU reset. So to help you out we have created a handy FAQ outlining what they are, why they matter and most importantly, how they impact our relationship with the EU, so that you too can be an expert on all things MRC related.

On 13 December, the European Union’s new General Product Safety Regulation (GPRS) law came into effect, impacting businesses across Britain by updating requirements on manufacturers, importers, and distributors of products into the EU and NI  by introducing new obligations around risk assessment. How can small businesses get the required ‘point of access’?

Today the European Union’s new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) comes into effect, impacting businesses across Britain by introducing new post-Brexit trade barriers with our closest overseas market, and delivering another blow to businesses exporting to Northern Ireland. What is GPSR? Who it will affect? Why does it matters the most for small businesses and sole traders?

 Following Labour’s ascension to Government there has been a conscious effort to reset the relationship between the EU and the UK. From Starmer meeting von der Leyen, Lammy attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council and Reeves meeting the Eurogroup finance ministers, what progress has been made? And what more can we expect in 2025?

A recent report from Universities UK shines a light on the impact of Brexit, and the Conservative government's drive to reduce net immigration figures, on the higher education sector. Rising visa costs, restrictive policies, and the delay in rejoining key research programmes like Horizon after Brexit have inflicted considerable harm on our institutions.

If you were asked about the value of art, you might be first drawn to the extraordinary sums of money dished out at auction houses around the world for a Picasso or a Monet. But alongside being a key driver of economic growth in the UK, art acts a far more nuanced societal good.

A visa waiver agreement for touring artists and performers  is one of Best for Britain’s key recommendations and making touring easier is something Labour pledged to do in their election manifesto. But what is it? How might it work in practice? Here’s everything you need to know.

As of the 1st January 2024, the UK formally returned to the Horizon programme. This followed three years of non-membership after Brexit, where UK-based scientists and institutions received no support from the research fund.

In the lead up to the Election, Labour explored plans to align the UK’s carbon regime with the EU’s if they were to win the Election. We look into the current carbon border tax situation in the UK, the problems that exist with it and why it is so important that the Government follows through with their plans for EU alignment.

Trade is a critical engine for economic growth and many countries around the world have independent bodies dedicated to measuring trade performance and advising on trade policy. But, in the UK, we do things a little differently. Instead we have the UK Board of Trade. So here’s everything you need to know about what it is, what it does and most importantly, what it should do.

After multiple delays, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System is finally set to launch. Brits will face a new border process when travelling to and from countries within the Schengen Area. Research carried out earlier this year suggests that almost two thirds of UK adults are unaware of the upcoming changes. What actually is the new EU Entry/Exit System? To what will it entail in practice for British travellers? You’ll find everything you need to know below. 

What is a youth mobility scheme? Do we already have them? And how do they benefit Britain? We answer all these questions and more.

In May the UK Government’s spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, revealed that the new post-Brexit border checks, introduced in April this year after repeated delays, will cost the public purse an eye-watering £4.7 billion.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Shadow Secretary of State for International trade Nick Thomas-Symonds will address hundreds of industry leaders from businesses of all sizes, from all parts of the economy who are meeting in a bid to influence trade policy before the next general election.