M&S rents warehouse just to store post-Brexit paperwork, boss reveals

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Marks & Spencer has had to rent a warehouse just to store piles of Brexit paperwork that “nobody looked at in the first place”, the retailer’s chairman has revealed. And, lashing out at the devastating financial impact Brexit has had on the beloved British firm, Mr Norman called for Sir Keir Starmer to strike a deal with the EU on food standards to “get rid of all these ridiculous restrictions on trade”. open image in gallery Marks & Spencer’s chairman has become the latest business leader to criticise Brexit Speaking to Times Radio last Friday, Mr Norman said: “In Ireland, our food business there, which is good business, but we don’t make much money out of it because of the border controls. open image in gallery Keir Starmer is seeking closer ties with the EU He said: “The objective should be to respect all those rules about customs union and not rejoining the EU but to see if we can’t agree with the European Union that our food standards are equivalent and therefore we can get rid of all these ridiculous frictional restrictions on trade which stop us trading food; food which everybody enjoys between the EU and the UK.” Mr Norman also said Brexit has forced M&S to pull out of Paris, where it was previously “probably the largest sandwich retailer”.