George Osborne claims Brexit damaged economy, suggests customs union
Former chancellor George Osborne claims Brexit damaged the UK economy and suggests rejoining the customs union, sparking debate on BBC Two.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Former chancellor George Osborne has claimed that Brexit damaged the UK economy and suggested rejoining the customs union. The remarks were discussed on BBC Two's Politics Live, where panellists gave a range of views on the economic and political impact of leaving the EU.
One panellist questioned the value of a customs union, saying it would bring little growth and take a long time to negotiate. They argued that joining the single market could produce double the growth, but would leave the UK as a rule taker without a vote. Another acknowledged that Brexit had caused economic damage, calling it an 'immutable fact', but rejected rejoining the EU, pointing to the government's manifesto commitment.
A Labour MP said his constituency voted strongly to leave, but many voters now felt Brexit had not been the success they hoped for. He refused to speculate on whether a future Labour manifesto would include rejoining the EU, saying it would be wrong for democracy. A pro-Brexit voice countered that the UK saves £13bn a year in contributions, delivered the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, and has signed new trade deals that will bear fruit over the next decade.
The transcript also referenced polling showing a majority of the public think Brexit has failed, and suggested that rejoining the EU could attract back voters who have drifted away from Labour. One speaker claimed that membership could deliver at least £93bn a year, with the benefits felt largely outside London and the South East.
The debate highlighted deep divisions over the best way forward, with no consensus on whether to pursue a closer relationship, rejoin the single market, or accept the current path.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| A customs union would provide minimal economic growth and take considerable time to negotiate. | |
| Most of the British public believe Brexit has failed. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC Two's Politics Live focused on the debate sparked by George Osborne's comments, with a range of panellists offering contrasting views on the economic merits of a customs union versus the single market, the political feasibility of rejoining, and the public mood. The programme also delved into electoral implications, citing polling and modelling on potential growth.
- “in terms of growth, if that's what a former chancellor is looking for not really, you're not going to get much from a customs union and it will take you quite a long time to negotiate it”
- “we've seen a very clear majority of the British public that think Brexit has failed”
- “we've seen a significant, multiple billions taken out of our economy as a result of leaving the European Union”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.