UK manufacturers tell May no EU deal is 'simply unacceptable'

EEF warns the government it needs to work with the industry to mitigate Brexit's implications amid shifting public sentiment about its impact on the economy

Failing to secure a Brexit trading deal with the EU would be disastrous for Britain's manufacturers and Theresa May's claim that no deal would be better than a bad deal is "simply unacceptable", industry leaders have warned.

As the prime minister prepares to trigger article 50 on Wednesday, the EEF, the trade body for manufacturers, has warned a decision to walk away from the negotiating table would be a "lose-lose" outcome for both the UK and the EU.