Pro-EU group in legal threat over Govt's 'secret' Brexit studies
A legal letter has been sent to Cabinet ministers David Davis and Philip Hammond, demanding the release of Whitehall documents.
Friday 13 October 2017 17:13, UK
The Government has been threatened with court action if it refuses to release "secret" studies over the impact of Brexit on the UK economy.
An anti-Brexit group of solicitors and Green MEP Molly Scott Cato have written to both Brexit Secretary David Davis and Chancellor Philip Hammond to demand the disclosure of Government documents.
Mr Davis told MPs last year that his department was conducting 57 studies across different sectors, covering 85% of the economy.
As well as these studies, the pro-EU campaigners are also asking to see what they claim is a separate Treasury analysis of the costs and benefits of Brexit.
The letter, sent through a London law firm, raises the prospect of taking ministers to court if the request is refused.
Asking for a response within a fortnight, the letter states: "Please note that our clients are minded to challenge any refusal before the courts by way of judicial review."
Whitehall sources suggested the full release of information could damage the Government's negotiating position in ongoing Brexit negotiations.
But Ms Scott Cato said: "The European referendum was all about taking back control but how can our democratic representatives make decisions in our interests when the Government is withholding vital information?
"It has been clear for some time that the attempt to keep the Brexit impact studies secret is more to cover the Government's blushes than to enable efficient law-making.
"The rule of law requires that MPs know what Brexit really means before they formally vote for our withdrawal."
Leading barrister Jolyon Maugham QC, who heads the pro-EU Good Law Project campaign, added: "This is our Government, it must act in our interests, and we must be free to scrutinise it to ensure that it does.
"These studies will inform decisions which will have a profound impact on our futures.
"There is a clear legal and principled case to say that these studies should not be hidden from public view."
The call for the documents' release has also been backed by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake, who has previously tried to use Freedom of Information requests to obtain the studies.
It comes after more than 120 cross-party MPs also wrote to Mr Davis to call for the publication of Government analysis on the impact of Brexit.
A Government spokesperson said: "The full list of sectors will be published shortly."