LABOUR have been accused of “hypocrisy of the highest order” for saying they will not undertake an analysis of the economic impact of the UK leaving the EU.
SNP MP Stephen Gethins submitted a written question last week asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves if she would be making an overall estimate of the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU.
He got a swift response from Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones which simply said “no”, which he said he finds “astonishing”.
Gethins said he finds Labour’s attitude particularly hypocritical given the SNP are “persistently” asked to outline the economics of Scottish independence.
Jones’ full response said: “No. The Government is focussed on resetting the relationship with the EU which will support economic growth, the central mission of the Government.”
Gethins told The National: “The SNP and those in favour of independence are persistently asked about the economics of independence and that is quite right that we should scrutinise that. We should be forthright about the benefits that will be delivered to the economy as a result of independence.
“The fact that Labour demand an economic analysis of a situation that has not yet happened with independence but will not give us an analysis of a situation that is devastating the economy right now is hypocrisy of the highest order.”
In October, a Labour minister admitted more had been spent withdrawing from the EU than the “black hole” in the UK’s finances.
In response to a written question, Labour Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq admitted that the UK had spent an estimated £23.8 billion as part of the EU financial settlement by December 2023, with a further £6.4bn estimated left to be paid.
Siddiq further conceded that the UK Government has “no overall estimate of the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on public finances”.
The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) also said at the end of October it was clear Brexit and the UK’s status outside the single market is costing the economy billions of pounds each year.
In a report released on the same day as the UK Budget, the OBR said: “Weak growth in imports and exports over the medium term partly reflect the continuing impact of Brexit, which we expect to reduce the overall trade intensity of the UK economy by 15 per cent in the long term.”
Gethins (below) told The National the approach from Labour is “beyond negligent”.
“What that tells me is that Labour know just how disastrous their policy of a taking on a hard Tory Brexit is for all of us and are too embarrassed to even undertake an analysis of what this means for us all.
“Given the impact on small businesses, economic growth and crucial sectors like the NHS and care sector, this is beyond negligent and actually quite damaging that they won’t even undertake this basic piece of work.
“The Labour Party have put their head in the sand over the devastation that their implementation of hard Tory Brexit is doing.”
In a response to another written question from Gethins in which he asked Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy about the impact of Brexit on touring musicians, minister for creative industries and arts Chris Bryant admitted many musicians have said it is not “economically viable or logistically possible” to tour Europe anymore.
The response said: “We fully recognise the scale of challenges facing professionals wishing to tour in Europe.
“Many have concluded it is simply not economically viable or logistically possible to tour in Europe. That denies European audiences the opportunity to hear British artists and it denies artists a chance to build their career. That is why we have pledged to do everything we can to help our touring artists.
“We are already working collaboratively with the live music sector to address these key issues for our brilliant musicians, artists and their support staff and are engaging with the EU and EU Member States, with a view to improving arrangements for touring across the European continent without seeing a return to free movement.”
The referendum to leave the European Union was held in 2016 but the UK didn’t formally leave until 2020.
During the referendum vote Leave campaigners argued that British trade would receive a boost from exiting the European Union.
However, It was reported at the start of 2024 that Brexit has already cost the UK economy around £140bn.
The Labour Government has specifically ruled out any return to the EU’s customs union or single market, despite growing warnings over the cost of Brexit to the UK economy.
