Smirkgate
Marr’s outburst at Priti: ‘I can’t see why you are laughing’
THE BBC’s Andrew Marr accused Priti Patel of ‘laughing’ at Brexitrelated business concerns during an interview yesterday.
On his show, Mr Marr told the Home Secretary, ‘I can’t see why you’re laughing’, as he read out a list of industry groups that have raised concerns in a letter to the Government about the impact of No Deal.
Miss Patel, who appeared on a video link, could be seen smiling as Mr Marr spoke of the industry representatives’ concerns.
She did not respond to Mr Marr’s comment, which came after she defended the Government’s negotiating position with the EU.
Mr Marr said industry bodies at the ‘forefront’ of the economy, including representatives from the chemical, aerospace and food sectors, had raised concerns that a No Deal Brexit posed a ‘serious risk to manufacturing competitiveness’.
He added: ‘The Government’s own modelling suggests that this free trade agreement would result in a lower growth of .7 per cent. Is that something that you’re prepared to accept as a price worth paying?’
Miss Patel then responded: ‘Well, I don’t accept that, and you know, I don’t know which data you’re quoting.’
After Mr Marr informed her that the figures were from Government documents, she said much of the information in the media was ‘out of date’.
She said the Government had ‘every confidence’ in UK busi
nesses, the economy and prospects after Brexit.
Mr Marr then read out a list of industry representatives who said No Deal would ‘result in huge new costs and disruption to UK firms’, stopping to make the pointed comment to Miss Patel.
Conservative MP Nigel Evans slammed Mr Marr’s comments and said: ‘Priti Patel and the Government are fed up with ‘project fear’ stories and being hammered by journalists who are critical because a Government is working tirelessly to deliver what people voted for in the 2016 referendum.’ Responding to the interview on social media, Labour MP David Lammy said: ‘Priti Patel is reminded of her own Government’s analysis of the disastrous impact of Boris Johnson’s proposed Brexit, she replies “I don’t know which data you’re quoting”.’
He added: ‘With people’s jobs and livelihoods on the line, this is unforgivable.’
A Tory source denied that Miss Patel was laughing and said the move was ‘premeditated’ by Mr Marr to ‘generate a bit of publicity’.