55% of foreign businesses with British interests believe Brexit will have negative impact - Poll
Around eight out of 10 foreign businesses with British interests are pessimistic about the outcome for the UK in the divorce talks with the European Union, polling has found.
Most firms, 55%, believe Brexit will have a "negative" impact on their future investments in the UK, according to Ipsos MORI.
Just 8% said the vote to leave the bloc has had a positive effect on their company interests in Britain so far compared to 54% who found it had been detrimental, while 36% said it had made no difference.
The survey of members of 13 foreign Chambers of Commerce, including the US, China, France and Germany, found 82% were either "not very" or "not at all confident" of a positive result for Britain in the exit talks compared to 13% who expressed optimism.
One in five, 22%, firms believe the fall in their investment in the UK will be more than 10%, while only one in ten think it will have a positive impact.
Nearly three-quarters, 72%, put smooth access to the EU market for goods and services as a top priority for the talks.
Brian Gosschalk, head of the president's office for Ipsos, said: "There have been a number of recent surveys of British business which reveal their concerns about the impact of Brexit.
"This new survey is noteworthy insofar as it covers businesses from 13 different countries, both from within and beyond the EU. Their views deserve careful consideration by key decision-makers."
