A Labour MP has blamed Brexit for Rachel Reeves’ tax-hiking Budget last October, saying he hopes Britain will rejoin the European Union within his lifetime.
According to Andrew Lewin, Britain is £40 billion poorer annually as a result of leaving the EU, and
"if we were still members... there would not have been a single tax rise."
According to studies cited by the Welwyn Hatfield MP, 16,000 businesses, mostly smaller ones, have ceased doing business with the EU since Brexit.
He said,
"Economists agree we are £40 billion poorer as a country because of the Brexit deal,"
while speaking at a fringe event at Labour's conference on the future of Britain's relationship with the bloc.
“And what does that practically mean? Wind back the clocks 11 months to last year’s Budget, where the chancellor had to raise taxes to the tune of about £40bn.
In a scenario where we are still members of the European Union, there would not have been a single tax rise, because we would have that growing productivity as part of the biggest democratic trading bloc in the world.”
Mr Lewin also blamed Brexit for soaring food prices in shops, arguing that barriers to trade are pushing up inflation.
And, after Andy Burnham called for Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime, Mr Lewin said: “I am younger than Andy Burnham, so definitely in my lifetime.”
But he said the chaos of the Brexit years has limited the EU’s appetite to welcome Britain back into the bloc.
“It is really important that the conversation today is about incremental but significant progress.. I don’t think for a minute that the EU, who were convulsed for years with our conversations about whether we wanted to leave and on what terms, are also in a position that they want to have a conversation with the UK about rejoining.”
Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham called on Monday night for Labour to “call out” the financial “disaster” of Britain’s departure from the bloc and said he wanted to see Britain rejoin.
“I do think you call out what has put the country in this position,”
he said.
“The growth is not there as it once was.”
He added:
“Long term, I’m going to be honest, I’m going to say it... I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin.”
On Tuesday, Best for Britain’s chief executive Naomi Smith presented polling showing that three in five voters now believe Brexit has been more of a failure than a success, pointing to the damage to the economy as the main problem.
She said:
“We asked them who they blame for all that, and they say Boris Johnson, David Cameron and, of course, Nigel Farage.”
How have Labour MPs publicly reacted to Reeves' October Budget?
Numerous Labour MPs referred to the Budget as a "proper Labour Budget" and expressed it was a "very strong response" to difficult inherited economic conditions after having gone through 14 years of Conservative governments. They commend the focus on rebuilding public services, especially the NHS, social care and schools, and measures protecting working people's pay and increasing the minimum wage.
A new Labour MP said "enormous relief" was felt, as the Budget did not include the feared mass cuts and instead favoured long-term growth and investment in infrastructure.
Some MPs emphasized its role in laying the groundwork to fix a crumbling economy, support communities, and address housing and public services with increased spending.