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| Brexit: MPs call for public inquiry into impact of leaving EU | Brexit: MPs call for public inquiry into impact of leaving EU |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MPs have urged the UK government to launch a public inquiry to assess the effects of Brexit in a parliamentary debate triggered by a petition. | MPs have urged the UK government to launch a public inquiry to assess the effects of Brexit in a parliamentary debate triggered by a petition. |
| A three-hour debate was held after 183,000 people signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the impact of leaving the European Union. | A three-hour debate was held after 183,000 people signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the impact of leaving the European Union. |
| The government says Brexit was a "democratic choice" and dismissed calls for a public inquiry. | The government says Brexit was a "democratic choice" and dismissed calls for a public inquiry. |
| But some MPs branded Brexit a "disaster" and an "error". | But some MPs branded Brexit a "disaster" and an "error". |
| The UK officially left the EU in January 2020 after a referendum in 2016 saw Leave beat Remain by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. | The UK officially left the EU in January 2020 after a referendum in 2016 saw Leave beat Remain by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. |
| The decision meant making big, structural changes to the relationship between the UK and the EU, with areas such trade, investment and immigration affected. | The decision meant making big, structural changes to the relationship between the UK and the EU, with areas such trade, investment and immigration affected. |
| Some economists believe Brexit has had a negative effect on the UK economy, but others argue the benefits of leaving the EU will be seen over time. | |
| What impact has Brexit had on the UK economy? | What impact has Brexit had on the UK economy? |
| Is Brexit costing £1m a day and other claims | Is Brexit costing £1m a day and other claims |
| UK is poorer as a country, says Michael Gove | UK is poorer as a country, says Michael Gove |
| Monday's debate in Westminster Hall gave MPs an opportunity to discuss these issues, with most speakers criticising Brexit and those who backed it. | |
| The discussion was led by Martyn Day, an SNP MP whose party wants an independent Scotland to rejoin the EU. | The discussion was led by Martyn Day, an SNP MP whose party wants an independent Scotland to rejoin the EU. |
| He said "concerns have been expressed that no impact assessment has been carried out to assess the damage that Brexit has created". | He said "concerns have been expressed that no impact assessment has been carried out to assess the damage that Brexit has created". |
| He cited comments made by Richard Hughes, the chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility, who recently told the BBC Brexit had been similar to the Covid pandemic in its impact. | He cited comments made by Richard Hughes, the chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility, who recently told the BBC Brexit had been similar to the Covid pandemic in its impact. |
| The latest forecast by the OBR assumes Brexit will lead to a 4% reduction in the potential productivity of the UK economy, with the reduction building "over time with the full effect felt after 15 years". | The latest forecast by the OBR assumes Brexit will lead to a 4% reduction in the potential productivity of the UK economy, with the reduction building "over time with the full effect felt after 15 years". |
| "The economic fallout from Brexit is stark," Mr Day said. | "The economic fallout from Brexit is stark," Mr Day said. |
| "From my perspective, Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster—politically, economically and socially, for Scotland and the rest of the UK. | "From my perspective, Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster—politically, economically and socially, for Scotland and the rest of the UK. |
| Mr Day said he backed the petition, which said "the truth about Brexit" can only be established "by an independent public inquiry, free from ideology and the opinions of vested interests". | Mr Day said he backed the petition, which said "the truth about Brexit" can only be established "by an independent public inquiry, free from ideology and the opinions of vested interests". |
| Public inquiries are usually initiated by a government minister, who appoints an independent chair or panel to examine matters of public concern, and produce one or more reports. | Public inquiries are usually initiated by a government minister, who appoints an independent chair or panel to examine matters of public concern, and produce one or more reports. |
| One recent example is the public inquiry into the UK government's handling of the Covid pandemic, which is under way. | One recent example is the public inquiry into the UK government's handling of the Covid pandemic, which is under way. |
| SNP MP Martyn Day opened the debate on the impact of Brexit | SNP MP Martyn Day opened the debate on the impact of Brexit |
| Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said a public inquiry "would help us face up to reality and it would give a true picture of the impact on people, business and the whole economy". | Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said a public inquiry "would help us face up to reality and it would give a true picture of the impact on people, business and the whole economy". |
| Like Mr Day, she cited analysis by the OBR which, in its latest forecast, assumes that "UK imports and exports will both be 15% lower in the long run than had we remained in the EU". | Like Mr Day, she cited analysis by the OBR which, in its latest forecast, assumes that "UK imports and exports will both be 15% lower in the long run than had we remained in the EU". |
| The Liberal Democrats have said they would seek a closer economic relationship with EU if they were in government. | The Liberal Democrats have said they would seek a closer economic relationship with EU if they were in government. |
| That position is anathema to Brexit-backing Conservative MPs like Adam Holloway, who spoke in favour of leaving the EU during the debate. | That position is anathema to Brexit-backing Conservative MPs like Adam Holloway, who spoke in favour of leaving the EU during the debate. |
| Mr Holloway said: "In reality, we are arguing today about whether we should have voted to leave the EU or whether we should rejoin." | Mr Holloway said: "In reality, we are arguing today about whether we should have voted to leave the EU or whether we should rejoin." |
| The Tory MP said the biggest benefit of Brexit was that "our sovereignty has been repatriated". | The Tory MP said the biggest benefit of Brexit was that "our sovereignty has been repatriated". |
| He said EU membership had brought "social problems" and "enormous stress on public services", which some MPs in the room did not understand. | He said EU membership had brought "social problems" and "enormous stress on public services", which some MPs in the room did not understand. |
| "It is easy to undervalue sovereignty if the areas in which it was surrendered to the EU do not actually impact one's life," Mr Holloway said. | "It is easy to undervalue sovereignty if the areas in which it was surrendered to the EU do not actually impact one's life," Mr Holloway said. |
| "It is easy to disdain patriotism if someone is economically and socially mobile and derives their self-worth from a well-paid job, or if their life is made easier by cheap labour as a result of free movement." | "It is easy to disdain patriotism if someone is economically and socially mobile and derives their self-worth from a well-paid job, or if their life is made easier by cheap labour as a result of free movement." |
| Leo Docherty, Conservative MP for Aldershot, was the minister put forward to represent the government in the debate. | Leo Docherty, Conservative MP for Aldershot, was the minister put forward to represent the government in the debate. |
| He said the government did "not believe that it would be appropriate to hold an inquiry into the impact of Brexit". | He said the government did "not believe that it would be appropriate to hold an inquiry into the impact of Brexit". |
| He said: "Britain left the EU to do things differently and make our own laws, but this was not just political theory: our laws and tax framework and the way we spend our money all make a real difference to people's lives." | He said: "Britain left the EU to do things differently and make our own laws, but this was not just political theory: our laws and tax framework and the way we spend our money all make a real difference to people's lives." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Brexit | Brexit |