Gove: Brexit won’t cause a recession
Britain will prosper outside EU, says Justice Secretary, as he urges a ‘vote for hope’
BRITAIN will thrive outside the European Union, Michael Gove declares today, as he rejects warnings that Brexit will cause a recession and urges the country to “vote for hope”.
In a passionate appeal to the public to set the country free from Brussels rule, the Vote Leave leader predicts the economy will prosper from a decision to pull out of the EU in Thursday’s historic referendum.
Mr Gove says voters should have confidence in Britain’s capacity to achieve “great things” as an independent country that is wholly run by MPs who are democratically elected by the British people. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, he says the UK will be better placed to cope with the strains of global economic disruption if the country takes back full control of its own affairs.
“There are great things that Britain can do in the future as a progressive beacon. By voting Leave, we have that opportunity,” he says. “People should vote for democracy and Britain should vote for hope.” Mr Gove made the comments as the referendum campaign restarted after a three-day truce following the murder of Jo Cox, the Labour MP.
In an article for this newspaper, the Prime Minister pays tribute to Mrs Cox’s campaigning efforts to keep Britain in the EU, as he warns that Britain faces “an existential choice” from which there will be “no turning back”.
The economy “hangs in the balance”, he says. After Brexit, trade would be damaged and investment in businesses would suffer, leading to a “probable recession” that would leave Britain “per- manently poorer”. He writes: “If you’re not sure, don’t take the risk of leaving... If you don’t know, don’t go. If we were to leave and it quickly turned out to be a big mistake, there wouldn’t be a way of changing our minds and having another go. This is it.”
The Remain campaign sees fears over the economic impact of Brexit as its strongest card, with leading economic organisations warning against leaving the EU’s single market.
The Treasury has claimed that leaving will cost the average household the equivalent of £4,300 while the Bank of England has warned of a recession.
Last week, the Prime Minister said he may be forced to cut the state pension and free bus passes after Brexit. However, Mr Gove says the warnings are wrong. “There are economic risks if we leave, economic risks if we remain. I don’t think there will be a recession as a result of a vote to leave.”
In his interview, Mr Gove rebukes rebel Tories who are plotting to oust the Prime Minister, and backs Mr Cameron to stay in Downing Street until 2020.
Leave is holding a narrow lead over Remain according to a new opinion poll. The YouGov poll for ITV puts Leave on 44 per cent, two points ahead of Remain, with 9 per cent undecided.