A top UK economist will provide an insight into what lies ahead for businesses in Cumbria as the UK’s new Prime Minister begins to grapple with Brexit.

Suren Thiru, head of economics and trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, will speak at a business breakfast event being held at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park on August 7.

Mr Thiru spent five years as an economist at Lloyds Banking Group before joining the British Chambers of Commerce in 2012.

A frequent expert commentator on TV, radio and in the press, he leads on the Chambers’ policy work on finance, international trade and tax in addition to his economic work.

His visit to Carlisle will come as a new Prime Minister is expected to be in place at 10 Downing Street, with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt in the running.

The event is jointly hosted by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of England, with regional agent Mauricio Armellini also taking the stage to present its latest Inflation Report outlining the Bank’s view on the economy, inflation and growth.

Rob Johnston, chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s pretty certain that we will have a new Prime Minister in place next week but, beyond that, it’s hard to predict with much confidence.

“We know that political uncertainty, especially around Brexit, weighs heavily on businesses and is delaying decisions on investment and hiring staff.

“We’ve invited Suren here to provide intelligent, bias-free analysis to help businesses plan for all possible scenarios and provide clarity amidst the political noise.

“He isn’t afraid to speak his mind so it should be a lively and insightful session.”

Businesses can register to attend the briefing through the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce website.