East Mids economy to shrink after Brexit, show leaked government papers

The East Midlands ecomony would receive a cut of 8% if the UK leaves the EU under a ‘no deal’ scenario, according to government secret papers leaked last week.

The papers, which made their way to Buzzfeed, show that the UK would be worse off under a comprehensive free trade deal, single market access and no deal at all.

Under the first scenario, the East Midlands economy would shrink by 1.8%, under the second by 5% and with no deal at all, the regional economy would take an 8% hit.

Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe, and one of the most vocal opponents of the ‘no-deal’ Brexit has tweeted: “So at its best Brexit will cut growth, jobs and prosperity for everyone in Broxtowe. This is madness and it doesn’t have to be like this.”

The worst affected parts of the UK would be the West Midlands and the north-east. London would be the least-affected.

Speaker John Bercow ordered the papers be released last week, and MPs are now able to access them in a confidential reading room in Parliament. Initial analysis from around the UK shows that areas which voted Leave in the 2016 referendum will be hardest hit.