MPs have called on the government to launch a public inquiry into the economic impact of Brexit in a parliamentary debate triggered by a petition.
A three-hour debate was held yesterday after 183,000 people signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the impact of leaving the EU.
In response, a government spokesperson said that Brexit was a “democratic choice” and dismissed calls for a public inquiry.
But some MPs branded Brexit a “disaster” and an “error”.
According to The BBC:
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.
Some economists believe Brexit has had a negative effect on the UK economy, but other argue the benefits of leaving the EU will be seen over time.
Monday’s debate in Westminster Hall gave MPs an opportunity to discuss these issues, with most speakers criticising Brexit than those who backed it.
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 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 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.
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.
