Brexit analysis: british government in need of explanation

Brexit analysis: british government in need of explanation

The british government has been put in a spot of bother by an analysis of the impact of the brexit on the economy that has been released to the public. According to the government’s analysis, britain has nothing to gain economically from leaving the EU.

This was reported by the news site buzzfeed on monday evening, citing a draft of the document. Accordingly, almost all sectors of the economy in the united kingdom have suffered, regardless of how the negotiations with the european union go. Remaining in the european single market was only going to limit the damage. Officially, the government in london insists that the brexit will open up considerable opportunities for the country.

The fact that brexit minister david davis denied at a hearing before the parliament’s brexit committee at the end of last year that such an analysis existed at all also caused trouble. "This is a complete shambles," labor MP and brexit committee chair hilary benn said on tuesday, questioning davis’ abilities as brexit chief negotiator. Scotland’s leader nicola sturgeon called the unveiling a "turning point in the brexit negotiations".

Opposition politicians demanded that the analysis be made public. This was rejected by the government. It is only a draft and furthermore none of the scenarios played out are desired by the government, said brexit secretary of state steve baker at an emergency session of parliament on tuesday. In addition, a publication undermined london’s negotiating position in brussel. One wants to reach there a "mabgeschneiderten deal".

The unveiling was allowed to further intensify the tensions within the government in london. May is under enormous pressure from both brexit hardliners and pro-EU forces in her party. For days, british media have been speculating about her imminent fall at the hands of brexit supporters.

May also faces headwinds in the predominantly pro-european upper house, where the eu withdrawal bill entered its second reading on tuesday. Based on the law, the government wants to end the application of EU law in the UK after brexit. At the same time, thousands of EU regulations from all areas of life are to be transferred into national law so that no chaos arises when great britain leaves the EU in march 2019. The issues at stake include workers’ rights and environmental protection.

The main points of contention are clauses that allow far-reaching changes to the law without the full participation of parliament. The government argues it needs a free hand to quickly adapt the rough set of EU rules to the new circumstances. The relevant committee of the house of lords, on the other hand, does not consider the current draft law to be in conformity with the constitution.