Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Theresa May dodges question on economic impact of leaving EU on WTO rules

The PM was asked by Labour's Angela Eagle to publish an analysis of leaving the EU without a free trade deal

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 08 February 2017 10:37 EST
Comments
Theresa May dodges question on economic impact of leaving EU on WTO rules

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Theresa May has refused to commit to publishing an economic assessment of the impact of leaving the European Union without a new free trade deal in place.

Speaking at the weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions, Angela Eagle, a Labour MP and former Shadow Cabinet minister, urged Ms May to publish an analysis of the impact of trading on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules on the British economy.

In the Commons on Tuesday David Jones, the junior Brexit minister, confirmed Britain would fall back on WTO trading arrangements if no deal was reached within the two-year timeframe allowed under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

If Britain left the EU without a deal it would be forced to trade with the rest of the continent under such rules. Roberto Azevedo, the organisation’s chief, has previously suggested this scenario would cost British consumers around £9bn in annual additional import tariffs.

But Ms May dodged the question. “As far as this Government is concerned we believe it is possible within the two-year timeframe to get the agreement not just for our withdrawal from the EU but also the trade arrangement that will ensure we have a strong, strategic partnership with the EU in the future,” she said.

The Labour MP Owen Smith also asked Ms May during the session whether she agreed with Mr Azevedo’s calculation of the £9bn impact on the British economy. But in her response, the Prime Minister simply reiterated her position that the Government would “ensure we negotiate a deal with the European Union that enables us to have the best possible deal in trading with and operating within the European Union’s single market in goods and services”.

Liz Kendall, the Labour MP for Leicester and former leadership contender, added that the choice MPs faced in Parliament at the end of the negotiating period was a “con” rather than a “meaningful" vote.

Her comments come after Downing Street was accused of “duping” MPs into back their plans for Brexit without offering them a meaningful vote on any deal to leave the EU.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in