Warning of economic downturn if hard Brexit goes ahead

THERE is a one-in-four chance the UK economy is already in recession and would face a “severe downturn” in the event of a “disorderly” no-deal Brexit, according to an influential think-tank.

hT e National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) also said the chances of a no-deal Brexit have doubled in the past three months from around 15% to 30%, since Conservative leadership hopefuls Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson both refused to it rule out.

It said: “hT e outlook beyond October, when the United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union, is very murky indeed with the possibility of a severe downturn in the event of a disorderly no-deal Brexit.”

hT e pound could also drop by around 10% – it recently hit two-year lows against the US dollar – and inflation could rise to 4.1% even if an “orderly” no-deal exit is secured, NIESR said

In a report released yesterday, NIESR added that the economy is set to grow by 1% a year over 2020 and 2021, even with a no-deal Brexit being avoided.

On the assumption of an orderly no-deal Brexit, the economy is set to stagnate for a year, not growing again until 2021.

hT e gloomy predictions come just days after the official watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), said the UK may be slipping into “a full-blown recession” and follows weak industry surveys that show manufacturing, construction and services sectors all suffering.

NIESR added that predictions beyond October 31 are incredibly hard to make because neither Mr Johnson or Mr Hunt has given any indication on what the UK will do once the country is in a no-deal situation.

Director Jagjit Chadha said: “I think [we have] chronic levels of uncertainty because one thing that has concentrated attention is whether we have a no-deal Brexit or not.

“But we’ve had very little discussion about what’s going to happen afterwards – what then happens in terms of funding for Government in the face of that – but we’ve had very little explanation by any of the candidates for prime minister with what they will do in the event of no-deal Brexit.”

hT e think tank said to mitigate the risks, the Government will need to increase public spending in the short term.