The independent think tank UK in a Changing Europe has today found that Johnson's deal would reduce GDP per capita by between 2.3% and 7% over the next decade. This compares with May's deal where the estimate was between 1.9% and 5.5%. They also suggest that a deal would hit public finances by £16bn and £49bn.
Today in parliament Johnson promised that high standards on workers rights an environmental protections will be maintained.
The political declaration can enter UK law but it is only a statement of intent and he can therefore promise the ERG that, if he wins the next election, he will set aside the political declaration and pivot towards deregulation and a sweetheart deal with Trump. The purpose of the ERG is to deregulate at home in order to strike trade deals with the US and emerging markets.
Would someone please explain why he should now be trusted when he has lied throughout the whole of his career. After all, leopards don't change their spots. It would take too long to list all his lies, but here's some, as a reminder:
1. When suspended from the cable car across the Thames, the mechanism apparently failed. Of course, it was deliberately stopped and he claimed it failed for a good photo opportunity.
2. In his manifesto for the London Mayor election he promised that he would ensure that there would be manned ticket offices at every train station. he then agreed to widespread closures in order to fund 24 hour tube trains
3. Also in his manifesto he promised to eradicate rough sleeping - it doubled during his tenure
4. He lied about the reason for proroguing parliament
5. He repeated his lie about the EU regulating the shape of bananas
6. He lied about there being no press when he was at GOS Hospital
Now for the money wasted whilst mayor on vanity projects:
1. Feasibility study into the Garden Bridge - £52 million
2. Cable car £24 million
3. Boris bikes £225 million (original idea Ken Livingstone but BJ implemented it)
4. Water cannon £323,000 - not allowed under UK law, unsold and now scrapped
5. Estuary airport feasibility study £5.2 million
6. Olympic stadium conversion to football pitch for West Ham - £305 million. The club was supposed to contribute £153 million but in the end it only paid £15 million and now pays annual rent of £2.5 million.
7. Routemaster hybrid buses £321.6 million - superseded by the introduction of electric buses. It's USP is now defunct because the doors at the rear "hop on hop off" platforms are closed in moving traffic (and that includes at walking pace)
A few of these projects had small amounts of sponsorship money but most of the costs were funded by the tax payer
