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Labour vows to force Government to publish secret Brexit reports laying bare economic damage Labour vows to force Government to publish secret Brexit reports laying bare economic damage
(about 4 hours later)
Labour vowed to win a Commons vote to force the release of the secret analysis laying bare the economic damage from Brexit, as the affair was branded a “cover up”. Labour vowed to win a Commons vote to force the release of the secret analysis laying bare the economic damage from Brexit, as the leak sparked a furious Government blame-game.
Ministers faced anger from all sides of the Commons, as they insisted the document – which concludes all three likely Brexit options would leave Britain poorer - must remain secret to avoid harming the “national interest”. MPs will vote on Wednesday as angry Conservative MPs joined attacks on ministers for insisting the document - which concludes all three likely Brexit options would leave Britain poorer - must remain secret to avoid harming the “national interest”.
Keir Starmer, Labour’s Brexit spokesman, vowed to stage a repeat of the vote, last year, which forced the Government to release the notorious sectoral analysis of withdrawal. The clash threatens to be a repeat of the defeat that ordered the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) to release 58 “impact assessments” for various economic sectors, although a red-faced David Davis later admitted they did not exist in that form.
“Publish it now – not in nine months, but now, so we can hold the Government properly to account,” Sir Keir demanded. Meanwhile, the latest leak led to angry recriminations as DExEU sought to deny it had commissioned the research, only for a senior source at the Cabinet Office to insist it had been done at the Brexit Secretary's behest.
And he warned: “The Secretary of State has a chance today to avoid a repeat of that exercises if he commits to publishing this new analysis in full. Will he do so?” In the Commons, Steve Baker, a Brexit minister, launched an extraordinary attack on economic forecasting - arguing it was “always wrong” - triggering a protest from the Whitehall trade union, which said it was an “insult” to dedicated professionals and suggested he should be sacked.
Brexit minister Steve Baker said MPs would be given an analysis when the negotiations over and before this autumn’s “meaningful vote” - but claimed publishing the incomplete leaked study would “risk exposing our negotiating position”. Keir Starmer, Labour’s Brexit spokesman, vowed to force the report's release, telling Mr Baker: “Publish it now – not in nine months, but now, so we can hold the Government properly to account.”
Some Conservative MPs also demanded publication: Heidi Allen said: “This is a one-time deal only and I, for one, owe it to my constituents to prove to them that I have exercised full scrutiny.” And he warned: “The Secretary of State has a chance today to avoid a repeat of that exercise [on the impact assessments] if he commits to publishing this new analysis in full.”
Mr Baker said MPs would be given an “appropriate” analysis when the negotiations over and before this autumn’s “meaningful vote” - but claimed publishing the incomplete leaked study would “risk exposing our negotiating position”.
Some Conservative MPs also demanded publication. Heidi Allen said: “This is a one-time deal only and I, for one, owe it to my constituents to prove to them that I have exercised full scrutiny.”
Veteran Pro-EU Tory Ken Clarke accused ministers of secrecy because of the “embarrassment”, telling Mr Baker: “Stop pretending that it is something to do with defending our negotiating position.”Veteran Pro-EU Tory Ken Clarke accused ministers of secrecy because of the “embarrassment”, telling Mr Baker: “Stop pretending that it is something to do with defending our negotiating position.”
And Antoinette Sandbach warned of damage to the car, food and chemical industries, telling Mr Baker: “I take exception to being told that it is not in the national interest to see a report that allows me to best represent my constituents.”And Antoinette Sandbach warned of damage to the car, food and chemical industries, telling Mr Baker: “I take exception to being told that it is not in the national interest to see a report that allows me to best represent my constituents.”
Labour MP Chris Leslie warned it would only be published when ministers had had a chance to “edit it, twist it distort it, redact the information in it”, adding: “A cover up pure and simple – and it stinks.”Labour MP Chris Leslie warned it would only be published when ministers had had a chance to “edit it, twist it distort it, redact the information in it”, adding: “A cover up pure and simple – and it stinks.”
But Mr Baker called the document a “selective interpretation of preliminary analysis” and condemned its leak as “an attempt to undermine our exit from the European Union”.But Mr Baker called the document a “selective interpretation of preliminary analysis” and condemned its leak as “an attempt to undermine our exit from the European Union”.
The Commons would, before voting on the final Brexit deal, be given “appropriate analysis the Government has done” so MPs could “make an informed decision”.The Commons would, before voting on the final Brexit deal, be given “appropriate analysis the Government has done” so MPs could “make an informed decision”.
Later, he defended keeping the analysis secret, arguing the public did not want to “engage in the details of trade policy”, which they “expect the government” to do.Later, he defended keeping the analysis secret, arguing the public did not want to “engage in the details of trade policy”, which they “expect the government” to do.
The briefing was so secret that only certain Cabinet ministers will be allowed to see it - and only then through individual briefings and with paper copies, to ensure they do not leave the room. He also made reference to the current film about wartime leader Winston Churchill, as he accused pro-EU MPs of unjustified negativity, telling them: “I have been to see Darkest Hour.”
Instead, in apparent evidence of discontent within David Davis’ own Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU), the document was handed to Buzzfeed News. The briefing was so secret that only certain Cabinet ministers will be allowed to see the analysis - and only then through individual briefings and with paper copies, to ensure they do not leave the room.
Instead, in apparent evidence of discontent within Mr Davis’ department, the document was handed to Buzzfeed News.
A no-deal Brexit, leaving Britain trading with Europe on World Trade Organization terms, would reduce growth by 8 per cent compared with current projections, over 15 years, it found.A no-deal Brexit, leaving Britain trading with Europe on World Trade Organization terms, would reduce growth by 8 per cent compared with current projections, over 15 years, it found.
Leaving with a Canada-style free trade agreement would see growth cut by 5 per cent, while staying inside the single market would reduce growth by 2 per cent.Leaving with a Canada-style free trade agreement would see growth cut by 5 per cent, while staying inside the single market would reduce growth by 2 per cent.
The document also warned the gains from free trade deals with other big countries would fail to make up for the losses - a boost of just 0.2 per cent over 15 years from a deal with the US, for example.The document also warned the gains from free trade deals with other big countries would fail to make up for the losses - a boost of just 0.2 per cent over 15 years from a deal with the US, for example.
  Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit Select Committee, effectively accused Mr Davis of misleading the Commons when he insisted - last month - that no “sectoral” analysis had been done, saying: “Now we learn it has been done.”
Later, Anna Soubry became the fourth pro-EU Tory to demand publication when she became one of 47 MPs from all parties to sign an open letter to Mr Davis, co-ordinated by the Open Britain soft Brexit campaign group.
The Prime Minister told the weekly meeting of the Cabinet that the leaked analysis was “initial work”, not approved by ministers, which did not take in the “bespoke arrangement” she was seeking.
“The PM said this was initial work, not approved by ministers, which only considers off-the-shelf scenarios,” her spokesman said.
“No analysis was made of the bespoke agreement we seek as a matter of Government policy as set out in the Florence speech.”