‘Brexit dividend’ pledge is populist politics at its worst

This claim has been debunked by the government’s own impact assessments which show that even the ‘softest’ Brexit would leave the UK worse off.

The government has now announced a 3.4 per cent increase in spending for the NHS (still insufficient, expert opinion suggesting minimum increase of 4 per cent to 5 per cent is needed). Strange then that Theresa May says this will be partly funded by the ‘Brexit dividend’.

This is populist politics at its very worst; there is no Brexit dividend and it is mendacious to suggest there will be.

It is us, the taxpayers, who will pay for this and those poorest off are likely to bear the biggest brunt - with suggestions that planned increases in income tax personal allowances may not go ahead.

Theresa May has drawn criticism from some of her own MPs, including Sarah Wollaston who tweeted ‘The Brexit dividend tosh was expected but treats the public as fools’.

Theresa May needs to be reminded that she has agreed to a Brexit ‘divorce bill’ estimated to be £39 billion. We will continue to pay into the EU during the transition period up to 31/12/20 (when we will be a rule taker but have no say on the rules, so much for taking back control). Payments may even continue after that if the Government’s fall back position of the Customs Regulatory and Alignment Period is accepted by the EU. Not to forget payments to the EU for various projects the UK still wants to be part of. So no likelihood of any Brexit dividend funding this rise in spending on the NHS.

Mrs May should also be reminded that the NHS crisis has been exacerbated by the fall in the pound since the referendum, making the cost of imported medicines and equipment more expensive, and the increased staff shortages following a 90 per cent drop in the number of new nursing applicants from the EU27 countries.

Steve Boyd, European Movement, Oswestry and North Shropshire branch