Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on today’s revelations about the Bank of England’s secret assessment of the impact of Britain leaving the EU, said:

“When millions of people’s livelihoods may depend on whether Britain stays in the EU, why is there so much secrecy around the official assessments of the consequences of a referendum? 

"It is crucial the British people are given a full analysis of the facts with no hidden agendas.

"We now need to know whether the Bank of England report will be published in time for everyone to consider the facts before a referendum. The Bank must make clear the timetable for ‘Project Bookend’ and the identity of the people who are involved in reaching its conclusions.

"Were the Chancellor and Treasury aware of this secret report? If so, when did they know and did they advise the Bank of England to publish it? If not, are Ministers commissioning their own assessment and will that be published? 

"The public need to be assured that the conclusions of 'Project Bookend’ won’t be shelved. This cannot be a clandestine process shrouded from public view." 

ENDS