Green MEP responds to David Davis claims that Brexit impact studies do not exist

6 December 2017

Responding to this morning's evidence session of the DExEU committee and David Davis's comment that the Brexit impact studies do not in fact exist [1], Molly Scott Cato MEP, who is about to launch judicial review proceedings to force the publication of the studies [2], said:

"I have been seeking to know the content of these studies since April and in September Brexit minister Steve Baker responded to my letter demanding release explicitly on behalf of the Secretary of State and acknowledging that the Department had 'conducted analysis of over 50 sectors of the economy' [3]. Now David Davis claims these studies do not in fact exist.

"There are two possibilities. Either the studies do exist, and Davis has lied to the House and must resign. Or the studies do not exist, in which case Davis is guilty of dereliction of duty and must resign. Either way, he cannot maintain the confidence of the House as our Brexit negotiator.

"Together with Jolyon Maugham QC of the Good Law Project I expect to be in a position to launch judicial review proceedings to force the publication of the studies tomorrow. This will give Davis or his representative the opportunity to clarify on oath whether the studies do in fact exist or not."

Notes:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/dec/06/david-davis-questioned-by-brexit-committee-about-impact-assessments-politics-live

2. http://mollymep.org.uk/2017/11/07/court-action-still-looms-brexit-impact-studies/

3. http://mollymep.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/SteveBaker_50studies-08.09.17.pdf

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