Michael Gove has stood by the contentious Brexit bus message advocating for redirecting £350 million per week from the EU to the NHS. Gove, a prominent figure in the Leave campaign, maintains that the figure was factually accurate, despite acknowledging the divisive nature of the Brexit discourse that hinders persuasion efforts. He acknowledged that the bus slogan, which read “We send the EU £350 million a week, let’s fund our NHS instead,” continues to provoke strong reactions.
While fact-checking organization Full Fact has disputed the validity of the £350 million claim, Gove refuted their analysis. Full Fact clarified that the UK never actually transferred £350 million per week to the EU and did not owe such an amount, emphasizing the economic ramifications of Brexit on trade and the UK economy.
Recent analyses indicate that Brexit has imposed substantial and enduring costs on the UK economy, with estimates suggesting lower GDP per capita, reduced investment, employment, and productivity due to the decision to leave the EU.
Despite criticisms, Gove reiterated his support for the £350 million bus claim, asserting that it underrepresented the funds the EU extracted from UK taxpayers and redistributed. He dismissed claims that the slogan misled voters, emphasizing that the figure underwent extensive scrutiny and debate.
When questioned about whether the NHS received the promised funds post-Brexit, Gove affirmed that increased financial support was allocated to the healthcare system. He highlighted the entrenched divisions in public opinion, making convincing individuals challenging regardless of the veracity of the claims.
Gove defended the bus message by arguing that allowing the UK to control its spending rather than relying on EU allocations was preferable. He also disagreed with Full Fact’s assessment and Nigel Farage’s criticism of the claim, asserting that the £350 million figure was not only accurate but also foreshadowed the increased NHS funding post-Brexit.