The UK economy was reported as being close to turning point on eve of leaving EU. Confidence is rising three and a half years after the Brexit vote but the tight timescale for a trade deal could harm recovery.

Britain’s economy is close to a turning point as the country prepares to formally leave the EU after almost half a century of membership, according to a Guardian analysis of economic news over the past month.

More than three and a half years after voting to leave, the UK will formally depart on Friday with the economy close to stalling point following repeated cliff-edge deadlines and intense political uncertainty over the country’s future trading relationships with the EU and other countries.

In the Guardian’s final Brexit watch before the exit date, warning lights were flashing with zero growth forecast for the final three months of 2019 amid intense political uncertainty, rounding off the worst year for growth outside of a recession since the second world war. Speculation had been rising that the Bank of England would cut interest rates on Thursday to reboot growth on the eve of leaving the EU.

However, there are also early shoots of recovery from a surge in business confidence since Boris Johnson’s unexpected decisive election victory, which could tempt the Bank to leave borrowing costs on hold at Mark Carney’s final rate-setting meeting in charge at Threadneedle Street. Carney will stand down in March to be replaced by Andrew Bailey.

To gauge the impact of Brexit on a monthly basis, the Guardian has been monitoring eight economic indicators over the past three years, along with the value of the pound and the performance of the FTSE 100.

City economists made forecasts for seven of those barometers before the data was released, and in six cases over the past month the outcome was better than expected, raising hopes that Britain can rebound from a period of lacklustre growth.

Read more from the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/30/brexit-uk-economy-close-to-turning-point-on-eve-of-leaving-eu

The World Prayer Centre, Birmingham, UK have initiated a Call to prayer – on 31st January and during the forthcoming transition phase. The invitation to followers of Jesus across the nations is to continue to call on the name of the Lord for His will, His kingdom and His perfect purposes and plans for the UK nations and our Continent to be outworked.

We believe that God works everything for His good – and so we come humbly and repent for what has gone wrong in the whole process of the last 3 years and ask for His mercy and His heart to start the process of rebuilding (Psalm 127.1)

We believe we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation - so we ask for a fresh desire to arise within each follower of Jesus to be a messenger of comfort, peace, hope and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)

We believe that we are asked to pray for those in leadership – so we ask for Boris Johnson and all in the UK governments/assemblies for God’s wisdom and direction especially regarding the transition talks (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name
We believe in God the Father almighty creator of heaven and earth
We hallow (honour) Your Holy name over the UK Nations
We hallow (honour) Your Holy name over every European Nation

We pray for Your Kingdom to come
In and through the transition period discussions between UK and EU
In and through all trade talks with other nations

For Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Through our leaders: Boris Johnson and the UK government
Michael Barnier and the EU team
In our relationships with all the Leaders of the European nations

Give us today our daily bread
We pray for reconciliation at every level in our society
We ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on His church
We ask for continued and growing freedom for the Gospel across all of Europe and for continued and growing freedom for the Bible to be read across all the nations

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Lord, have mercy on us as a UK nation
Lord, have mercy on us as Your church
Lord, have mercy on the EU
Lord, have mercy on every nation in Europe

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
Bring into the light those with evil intent of division and destruction
We pray for peace on our streets
Bring into the light those whose intent is greed and manipulation
Bless all the work of the peacemakers.

For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and for ever
We pray that Your name will be glorified
We pray that millions will come to know Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life
We bless every nation with the blessing of Your Shalom peace
You are our rock, we look to You, we trust You.

Amen.

Ian Cole, World Prayer Centre / IPC Senior Advisor

More: https://www.worldprayer.org.uk/Event/call-to-prayer-brexit-31-january

Also Pray for wisdom for the Bank of England and the European Central Bank as they steer the economies and manage interest rates.

Pray for economic stability for the region and that the anticipated boosts to trade will transpire for the UK.