SMALL businesses have called for an end to the Brexit stalemate which has left business planning in limbo and investment decisions on hold.
Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: "As MPs vote tomorrow evening, they should have uppermost in their minds a determination to find a path to a deal that can get through the House of Commons; and by doing so to stop the damage which many small businesses would suffer if we face a no-deal Brexit on March 29.
"With just 60 days to go, the country is simply not ready.
"The cross-party amendment tabled by the MPs Yvette Cooper and Nick Boles would pave a Parliamentary path towards, if necessary, a short, technical extension of Article 50 to be requested by the Prime Minister to the EU27 until the end of June."
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He said: "I would ask MPs to give this amendment serious consideration.
"If passed, this would help provide the space for other ways forward to be explored, including on the backstop as highlighted in the amendment proposed by the Conservative 1922 Committee Chairman Sir Graham Brady."
Mr Cherry, above, said: "A stable, predictable economic and political environment is a prerequisite for small business growth and the jobs that this sustains.
"With small business confidence already at its lowest since 2011, a no-deal Brexit on March 29 would put this at risk.
"Half of small businesses that believe they would be impacted by a no-deal Brexit told us that they would need at least two months’ notice if they were to be adequately prepared.
"A further third told us they would not be in a position to prepare for a no deal Brexit at all."
Paragon Banking Group has reported higher lending and deposit growth across all of its businesses and backed its full-year guidance.
However, the lender also warned that it will maintain its capital liquidity buffer in order to hedge against a further deterioration in the "external operation environment".
Chief executive Nigel Terrington said: "The group has started the year well, delivering strong lending growth across all our core business areas. Our retail deposit base continues to grow, creating further efficiencies in our funding structure.
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"We remain confident in the outlook, but will maintain our capital, liquidity and broader risk disciplines in case the external operating environment should deteriorate."
The FTSE 250-listed firm said new business flows increased 41% to £660 million in the first quarter ended December 31.
Unilever has teamed up with Italy's Bio-on to launch a new range of environmentally responsible sun creams.
The two companies have created a line of sun protection products made from Bion-on's 100 per cent natural and biodegradable bioplastic.
The new products have been developed by Bio-on, and will be sold by Unilever under the brand name My Kai.
They are the first made using minerv bio cosmetics, the bioplastic micro powders first presented by Bio-on in spring 2017 and designed for cosmetics that respect the environment and human health.
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