Pay attention at the back
In this post-Brexit world journalists need to arm themselves with facts, because the government lies shamelessly all the time.
My favourite is that there are benefits from Brexit, like new trade deals and less red tape that will blast the British economy into space. Leaving the rest behind, gagging to get out of the EU and try to copy the UK’s success.
Unfortunately for the government, its ministers, MPs and supporters, the Office for Budget Responsibility continues to rain on their parade. As it said in its analysis of the Spring Statement:
None of the free trade agreements signed so far or regulatory changes will have a"material impact” on its economic forecast.
It also said that trade had fallen by 15% as a result of Brexit.
Those two facts should be tattooed on every journalists hand. None of the smoke and mirrors can hid the facts: the so called Brexit benefits are non existent and trade has been decimated, or for the pedants (like my brother) decimated and a half.
This is not remoaners speaking it is the governments own economic watchdog. The Chancellor and the cabinet know this but do nothing.
Every interview should start with “Why are you deliberately running down the British economy, minister?”
But it won’t, which is how they get away with it.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.