EXCL Govt accused of 'hiding bad news' after Liam Fox AGAIN rejects Brexit impact studies call
3 min read
A top Labour MP today accused the Government of “hiding bad news” after Liam Fox admitted publishing a set of controversial Brexit impact assessments could scupper negotiations for Britain.
The International Trade Secretary said unveiling the secret advice laying out the expected effect of Brexit on jobs and living standards would “diminish our negotiating hand”.
But former minister David Lammy argued that the fresh rejection proved the assessments would show "the Government's Brexit plans will be a disaster for our economy".
And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable suggested that Brexit supporters were “losing the battle” and were therefore reluctant to reveal the analysis to the public.
More than 120 MPs signed a letter to Brexit Secretary David Davis earlier this month demanding to see the impact assessments on quitting the EU.
His department has said it will publish the documents in “due course” but has so far refused to disclose even which sectors have been assessed.
In an exclusive interview with the House magazine last week, Tory MP Dominic Grieve also joined the calls for the assessments to be published.
But asked on Peston on Sunday whether the Government should publish the analysis, Dr Fox said: “Why would we publish data in a negotiation that might actually diminish our negotiating hand?”
Mr Lammy - who led the letter campaign - shot back, telling PoliticsHome: “Liam fox's latest refusal today, following consistent evasion of parliamentary questions and freedom of information requests proves they are hiding bad news.”
The Tottenham MP added: “The impact assessments can only diminish our negotiating position if they reveal that the Government's Brexit plans will be a disaster for our economy, jobs and living standards.
“So it's time to come clean and publish these studies so we can have a full and frank debate about the impact of Brexit.
“It is totally unacceptable to keep this information locked away when peoples' jobs are on the line."
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable also weighed in, telling PoliticsHome: “It is clear that the Government negotiating position is weak and that serious analysis suggests we shall be worse off outside the EU and even worse off with a no deal outcome.
“Crucially, the Brexiteers are beginning to lose the battle for British public opinion which is why they think the public can’t be trusted to see the impact assessment.”
He added: "Dr Fox's comments suggest very strongly that there is bad news in these reports and the Government is eager to hide it."
Sir Vince published his own analysis today which claimed quitting the EU without a trade deal could cost the UK £430bn over five years.
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