Leeds council chief makes Brexit ‘Groundhog Day’ warning

His comments came during a discussion by the council’s decision-making executive board on the city’s preparations for the UK’s impending departure from the EU – currently set for January 31 this year.

Leeds’s top civil servant Tom Riordan said he believed the government was keen to talk about economic opportunities around Brexit, but warned difficulties in negotiations between the UK and the EU could set them back to square one.

He said: “There is a lot of interest from the business community in particular – we are going to keep that dialogue open.

“I have not spoken directly to civil servants down in London yet, but my understanding of the mood music is that the government will be keen to move into talking about the economy in particular, and getting people ready for the period when we leave, also for the opportunities that will arise in some places.

“If the negotiations [between the UK and Brussels] are difficult, we will be moving towards a period that will feel like Groundhog Day where we are all preparing for a no deal by the end of the year, so we need to keep an eye on this.”

Groundhog Day was a 1993 comedy film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, in which a weatherman finds himself repeatedly reliving the same day.

Leader of the Leeds Conservatives group Coun Andrew Carter responded: “I am pleased to hear him say we will be looking at the opportunities as well as the downsides. The people of Leeds made it very clear on December 12 they want the matter over and done with.

“I suspect those that want to continue the battle will pay the price at the ballot box.”

Council leader Judith Blake said earlier in the meeting: “There have been some seismic developments since we last met, but there is a lot of interest and concern, particularly around the economic impacts of how we can take this forward and make sure communication is kept where it needs to be.”

Leeds Lib Dems leader Stewart Golton added: “I am looking forward to seeing how the new administration gets things done other than Brexit, and seeing how the effect of Brexit enables them to deliver things such as social care, decent housing and a health service we can be proud of.”