Only a Labour Government can make an economic success of Brexit - John McDonnell

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on the report in the Financial Times today that suggests the public finances will deteriorate by £100bn under the Tories by 2020, said:

“This looks like Philip Hammond simply trying to get his excuses in early, but no one will be fooled after six years of Tory failure.

"The truth is that the Tories were failing by their own targets on the economy before the referendum, as a recent leaked Treasury document admitted.

"After six wasted years of Tory failure, their shambolic handling of Brexit will only make an already bad position on the public finances worse. The country cannot afford a Cabinet in disarray, as the Chancellor finds himself side-lined on the Brexit negotiations, at a time when our country faces its biggest economic challenge in a generation.

"Only a Labour government can make an economic success of Brexit, as we are prepared to make the serious investment our economy needs to secure decent jobs and meet the challenges ahead.”