Brexit report findings 'should drive Labour to call for UK to rejoin EU '

The Labour Party should “end its ambiguity over Brexit ” a leading political economist has said, following the Public Accounts Committee 's damning verdict on the Government 's handling of Brexit.

Professor Alex de Ruyter, director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University has suggested the report findings should drive the Labour Party to stand up and call for the UK to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union.

Mr De Ruyter said: “For Labour to state 'Make Brexit Work ' is disingenuous - you cannot “make ” Brexit work and Labour know this.

“It has already cost the UK economy billions ( £66 billion estimated between 2016 and 2019) and continues to cost businesses and consumers every day, with every border check and every customs consignment that is filed.

“Little wonder the Government has delayed the introduction of import checks on inward goods from the EU. Should these be imposed on the 30 per cent of our food (50 per cent of fresh produce) that we import from the EU then consumers really will notice shortages on the supermarket shelves as produce is held up at Calais and Dover.

“Covid has given the UK Government ample political cover whilst demand and cross-border movements have been subdued but now that the pandemic is abating we can expect more people to travel and the flow of goods to increase, which will only add to further congestion at our ports and further hold-ups. ”

Mr De Ruyter said Labour must present “real options for change ”, with the Government pressing ahead with its stance on Brexit.

“For Jacob Rees-Mogg to be given a made-up Cabinet role of Minister for 'Brexit Opportunities ' exposes the vacuousness at the heart of the Johnson project. Rees-Mogg is on record as stating that the “benefits ” of Brexit could take up to 50 years to materialise.

“He cynically moved part of his own business operations to Dublin in response to Brexit; and any attempt to water down EU standards will have no impact on the 50 per cent of our trade that is with the EU - our largest customer by far.

“From this Government no change of approach can be expected as they must keep up the Brexit fiction or be exposed as liars to their own supporters. If Labour are to take advantage of the current complexities they must detail an alternative and present real options for change.

“As the economic and political costs of Brexit continue to mount (especially on those regions like the West Midlands that heavily voted for it), it 's time for Labour to come off the fence and lead an honest public debate. ”