HOVE MP Peter Kyle has warned Brexit is casting a shadow of uncertainty over major employers in the city

He was talking after an exchange in the House of Commons with Business Secretary Greg Clark.

Mr Kyle said Brighton and Hove was a city open for business and thrived on its close relationship with the European Union.

But he is worried about major employers in the city such as EDF and Amex.

He said: “When the Prime Minister finally decides who in her Cabinet actually speaks for the Government when it comes to what our future outside the EU will look like, these major employers need clarity and certainty over their future relationship with Europe.

“The Government was able to give enough assurances to Nissan that their business would not be negatively impacted by Brexit that the car firm decided to retain their operations in the North East.

“I asked the Business Secretary whether he would be able to offer those same assurances to our major employers.

“He didn’t answer my question but I will keep pushing the Government to make sure businesses in our city can still enjoy an open and free relationship with the EU and so continue to base themselves in Brighton and Hove.”

The MP asked whether Mr Clark would write a letter to EDF offering assurances about “people tariffs and regulation”.

Mr Kyle said: “He won’t. These are the areas I want much more clarity on before I will back any timetable for leaving the certainty businesses and jobs currently enjoy.”

The Business Secretary said American Express was a very important employer in Brighton.

He said: “It has located itself in this country because Britain is a fantastic place from which to do business.

“That is the message that I receive wherever I travel to in the world.

“There is great appetite to invest in Britain. I hope that American Express will continue to invest more and employ more in his constituency.”

Doug Smith, from American Express, told The Argus after Brexit: “The result of the vote will not have any immediate impact on our European operations.”