It began when a “leaked” document showed the UK would be £66Bn worse off (HERE) if we left the EU and traded under WTO rules (known as hard Brexit). Actually, the figures were released in April but are now coming to people’s notice because the Treasury is sticking by the forecasts it made before the vote.
Many prominent leavers, including David Davis I believe, thought the figure had been cooked up to help the government. It turns out that The Treasury is not bending.
Mr Davis is apparently upset and is now accusing The Treasury of trying to undermine the negotiations (HERE). In the article some unnamed cabinet minister says he has yet to meet a senior civil servant who voted to leave or who thinks Brexit will make us better off. This alone should be reason to pause for thought but it apparently isn’t.
This is all part of the battle in Whitehall between Hammond on the one hand and Davis and Fox on the other (HERE). This is only going to get worse, the Brexiteers in government will never accept they are wrong and will always blame others.
Interestingly, The Treasury are saying here is our evidence of the downside where is your evidence for the upside. This may take a bit of finding – since there isn’t any. If the cabinet takes a decision to exit the single market it will be on faith alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment