Prime Minister’s Question/Lie-ing Time
Just watched PM’s Question time on TV – I regard it as part of my job, but not my favourite part!
It should really be called – ‘Prime Minister Avoids Questions – Time’ – as any answers often don’t relate to the question asked, in any way.
or worse – as was the case today – actually a blatant lie.
The question – which, I admit, I didn’t give great attention to- was generally to do with the decline in the UK economy since Brexit plus another go at Liz Truss’s disastrous mini budget when in power.
The answer from Sunak, basically – just one point –
‘Since Brexit the UK has overtaken a number of it’s EU trading rivals and is now “The fourth largest exporter in the world”.
Statistically correct – but I am a great believer in the old adage – ‘there’s statistics and there’s damn lies.’
The lie:
Before Brexit – all UK goods and services to other EU member countries i.e. fellow members of the ‘Single Market’ were not recorded as ‘exports’. In simple terms they were basically treated as domestic/home trade.
Without getting too technical – trade with other EU members was recorded as –
for statistical purposes – Despatches or Arrivals
for tax purposes e.g. VAT Sales or Acquisitions
There was no such thing as an ‘export’ to another EU member.
Post Brexit – any goods or services leaving the UK became exports, virtually – overnight – and subject to direct Customs & Excise (now HM Revenue & Customs) control – hence the issues (and chaos) caused, following Brexit – by increased documentation and controls for Customs and VAT Declarations.
Previous to the UK’s official departure from the EU – which to be precise was –
end January 2020 – our ‘sales’ to the EU, represented between 55% to 65% of our total worldwide ‘export ‘sales (£i69 billion in 2019)
So, when you consider that all of that EU trade – turned into genuine ‘exports’ for statistical purposes – – basically overnight – then it’s not much of a surprise that the UK has been climbing the league of ‘World Exporters’ for the last four years – and the government can’t claim all the credit -if any. Sunak knows that – but chose not to mention it – perhaps worse – Starmer – his questioner – didn’t think to throw it back at him.
maybe it’s too complicated for politicians!
P.S. For those who missed it – and have an interest in the lies told by the ‘Leave’ group during the original Brexit campaign -see – my previous post –
‘BREXIT 3rd Anniversary’ published 23/02/01