Michael Gove has stood by the contentious Brexit bus slogan that claimed £350 million per week was going to the EU and should be allocated to the NHS instead. Gove, a prominent figure in the Leave campaign, maintained that the £350 million figure was accurate, despite acknowledging the divisive nature of the Brexit debate that hindered convincing people. He admitted that the bus advertisement, which read “We send the EU £350 million a week, let’s fund our NHS instead,” continues to provoke strong reactions.
In response to fact-checking charity Full Fact’s criticism disputing the claim, Gove dismissed their analysis. Full Fact emphasized that the UK never paid the EU £350 million per week and did not owe such a sum to the bloc, highlighting the complexities of the economic impact stemming from Brexit-related trade changes.
Recent analysis indicated that Brexit has had a significant and lasting negative impact on the UK economy. UK in a Changing Europe reported that Brexit resulted in a notable decrease in GDP per capita, lowered investment levels, reduced employment rates, and decreased productivity compared to scenarios without Brexit.
Despite facing scrutiny, Gove defended the £350 million bus claim, stating that it was a valid representation of the funds the European Union took from UK taxpayers. He refuted accusations of misleading the public and emphasized that the figure had been thoroughly debated and scrutinized.
When questioned about the actual allocation of £350 million per week to the NHS post-Brexit, Gove asserted that more funds were indeed directed to the health service. However, he acknowledged the challenge of convincing individuals on opposing sides of the Brexit debate, highlighting the deep-rooted divisions.
Gove contended that the bus claim was not misleading as it overlooked the UK’s ability to decide how to utilize the funds previously sent to the EU. Dismissing criticism from Full Fact and Nigel Farage, Gove maintained that the bus claim was not only accurate but also served as a projection, as the UK ultimately allocated a substantial amount exceeding £350 million per week to the NHS, benefiting the healthcare system.