WORLD

MP calls out BBC for ‘rarely’ pointing out huge trade deficit between UK and the EU

18 June, 2020
Oliver Down

The Conservative MP for Shrewsbury Daniel Kawczynski has ignited Brexit row on the BBC after he stated that, in his opinion, the “BBC rarely refer” to the huge trade deficit that exists between the UK and the EU and argued that this deficit means the EU need to avoid a no-deal scenario more than the UK. 

Mr Kawczynski MP believes that Britain enjoys a £70bn trade deficit with the EU. Tensions around obtaining a trade deal appear to have escalated following last Friday’s announcement which saw, the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove confirm to Brussels that “the moment for an extension has now passed”.

Whilst speaking to the BBC’s Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Kawczynski MP said: “One of the largest exporters in my constituency, its managing director told me they expect a deal or no deal, but to ensure we leave on time. We easily fill out forms when we export to American and Canada. We are perfectly competent in filling out those forms and paying our tariffs to the EU”. 

The Brexiteer Tory MP then went on the attack and said : “Let’s not forget one thing, which is very important here, and which the BBC very rarely refer to. We have a massive trade surplus with the US, but we have a huge trade deficit with the EU. We are paying these people in the transition period, this year alone, £17 billion and yet we have a trade deficit of over £70 billion a year. So that means, if we go to WTO terms, their companies would have to pay our Exchequer much much more in tariffs than our tariffs would have to pay them. It is in their interests to get a deal and avoid a no deal”.

Mr Kawczynski concluded his interview by saying : “The fact they expect and demand the status quo shows the sheer level of arrogance of these people”.

[give_form id=”1772″ show_title=”false” show_goal=”false” show_content=”below” display_style=”modal”]

 

-->