Cambridge's Labour MP Daniel Zeichner on Brexit: Best deal is one we have now - full EU membership

mike.scialom@iliffemedia.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 05 December 2018

| Updated: 12:57, 05 December 2018

13 07 16 Queen visits East Anglian Air Ambulance EAAA to open their new HQ with Prince Phillip and the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William. MP Daniel Zeichner. Picture: Keith Heppell. (5801123)

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has reacted with fury to the release of the Government’s economic findings – which show the UK economy would be worse off in all Brexit scenarios – and is calling for the public to be asked to give their consent before the Government makes them poorer.

The Government’s analysis on the economic impact of all Brexit scenarios has projected that, under any scenario, leaving the European Union will result in GDP being lower over a 15-year period. This ranges from a no-deal scenario – which indicates that GDP would be 9.3 per cent lower compared with current arrangements – to the Prime Minister’s deal, which would result in GDP seeing a reduction of 2.5 per cent.

The Labour MP for Cambridge said: “The findings that the UK will be worse off under any Brexit scenario will shock many people – it is not what they were promised. It is extremely dangerous, at this late stage of the process, for the PM to be ploughing ahead with her Botched Brexit after being told by her own Chancellor that it will make the UK poorer.

“My view has long been that the best deal the UK has is the one we have right now, and that is full membership of the European Union. The country must be asked, either through an election or a referendum, whether this agreement, which makes us all worse off, is the way they want to go.”

Mr Zeichner has also spoken of the traumatic impact a no-deal Brexit would have on Cambridge’s highly skilled pan-European, multi-cultural community. His concerns, outlined in an interview with Dr Ed Kessler for The Woolf Institute’s ‘Encounter’ podcasts, said the “the world had changed beyond all recognition” since his 2015 election.

“I think people are more anxious, more worried – and, I have to say, I felt a chill descending on Cambridge’s research sector a few weeks ago as people began to talk realistically about us crashing out of the European Union with no deal.”

Yesterday, the government lost three votes on Brexit.

Cambridge Politics Mike Scialom