The truth about whether Boris Johnson is misleading voters over his Brexit deal

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Friday 06 December 2019 15:04 GMT
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Jeremy Corbyn has unveiled a confidential government report that he claims provides “cold, hard evidence” that Boris Johnson misled the public over a critical part of his Brexit deal with the EU.

The Labour leader said the Treasury document, entitled “NI protocol: Unfettered access to the UKIM [internal market]”, undermined Johnson’s claims that there would be no customs checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland.

The report appears to be an official analysis of the Northern Ireland protocol, which replaces Theresa May’s backstop plan to solve the Irish border issue.

  1. What has Boris Johnson said before?

    At the start of the election campaign, the prime minister was asked in person by Northern Ireland business leaders whether they would be subject to customs declarations.

    “You will absolutely not,” he told them. “If anyone asks you to do that tell them to ring up the prime minister and I’ll direct them to put that form in the bin.”

    Potential checks were also at the centre of a row in parliament before the election began.

    Johnson insisted there would be “no checks” on goods during Prime Minister’s Questions in October, directly contradicting Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, who admitted that Northern Ireland businesses will be forced to fill out export declaration forms when sending goods to Britain under the terms of the new Brexit deal.

    Julian Smith, the Northern Ireland secretary, also told a Commons committee there would be checks but they would be kept at a “minimal” level.

  2. What does the leaked document say?

    As Corbyn points out, the Treasury analysis contradicts the prime minister’s claims.

    It says there will be customs declarations on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as regulatory checks and rules of origin checks on goods going to Northern Ireland from the British mainland if Johnson secures a trade deal with the EU.

    Checks could be “highly disruptive” to the Northern Ireland economy, where 98 per cent of exporters to Britain are small businesses who will be hit hard by these extra costs, according to the report.

    Prices of imported high street goods are likely to rise, which would hit business profits and the retail sector, it added.

  3. What do experts say?

    Trade experts have been sceptical about the prospect of frictionless trade. Alan Winters, the director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory, said around 75 per cent of Northern Ireland’s imports could be subject to EU tariffs on arrival.

    In an analysis of the deal as part of ongoing litigation by anti-Brexit campaigners, Winters said about 64 per cent of imports from Britain to Northern Ireland would face EU tariffs.

    However, he cautioned that imports between GB-NI are poorly documented at the moment, as it currently counts as internal trade.

  4. What does Labour say?

    Corbyn told reporters that the document “exposes the falsehoods” the prime minister is peddling on the potential impact of his Brexit deal.

    The Labour leader said: “This is the cold, hard evidence that categorically shows the impact Johnson’s damaging Brexit deal will have on large parts of our country.

    “Fifteen pages that paint a damning picture of Johnson’s deal on the issue of Northern Ireland in particular.”

    Corbyn said the document “drives a coach and horses” through the PM’s claim that there will be no border down the Irish Sea – as the document says there would be checks on goods travelling from Northern Ireland to the British mainland.

  5. How have the Conservatives reacted?

    Angrily. The prime minister said he had not seen the document but it was “complete nonsense” when challenged by journalists on the campaign trail.

    Johnson said: “I know perfectly well that goods going from NI to GB and GB to NI will have no checks.

    “The only checks will be those going via NI into Ireland. Everybody understands that and that’s so we avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

    Conservative sources confirmed the document was real – but said it was a flash analysis done immediately after the Brexit deal was struck in October. It has not been seen by the prime minister, the chancellor or any senior officials.

    However, the Tories contradicted the PM, saying there could be checks on goods heading into Northern Ireland, but the only goods that will pay tariffs will be goods that are destined for the Republic of Ireland.

    Conservative sources also pointed to the fact that the protocol on Northern Ireland would be superseded if the PM secures a free trade agreement with the EU.

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