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19 November 2019

The Independent: Boris Johnson government will not carry out any economic impact assessment of his Brexit deal, officials admit


No analysis of the likely economic damage from Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will be carried out, the government has admitted.

Ministers have dropped plans to publish a Treasury assessment, amid estimates of a hit to the UK economy of anything between £70bn and £130bn, leaving people thousands of pounds worse off.

The stance was attacked as “a dereliction of duty” by Julie Ward, a Labour MEP, who uncovered it after submitting a freedom of information request. 

“The government doesn't even know, or don't even seem to care, what their new Brexit deal will mean for the economy, business and families across the country,” she said.

Sajid Javid, the chancellor, was strongly criticised for refusing to publish an assessment before MPs voted on the prime minister’s divorce deal last month.

MPs suggested it would echo Treasury data from last year, which said the limited free trade deal Mr Johnson now plans with the EU will strip 6.7 per cent from GDP over 15 years – meaning £130bn of lost growth.

Now the FOI response has stated: “There is no ‘economic impact assessment’ based upon the withdrawal agreement, nor is there a date for an ‘economic impact assessment’ to take place.” [...]

Full article on The Independent



© The Independent


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