Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Only two days after vote for Brexit and already the broken promises are mounting

Leave camp row back on its pledges on NHS spending, immigration and the timeframe for leaving the EU

Tom Peck
Saturday 25 June 2016 20:47 BST
Comments
Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus.
Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Promises on NHS spending will not be met, EU immigration may not be controlled and leaving the EU could take several years are among a series of claims made by leading Brexit campaigners in the hours following the nation’s shock decision to leave the EU.

“A lot of things were said in advance of this referendum that we might want to think about again,” said the Conservative former Defence Minister Liam Fox.

He has suggested Article 50, the provision by which a country leaves the European Union, should not be triggered straight away. From the moment that occurs, the UK would have two years to leave the EU. “I think it doesn’t make any sense to trigger Article 50 without having a period of reflection first, for the cabinet to determine exactly what it is we’re going to be seeking and in what timescale.”

Iain Duncan Smiths breaks 350 million NHS promise after Brexit

The Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan told Newsnight that EU immigration would continue if the UK wanted to retain membership of the single market, a course of action he himself advocates. “Frankly, if people watching think they have voted and there is now going to be zero immigration from the EU, they are going to be disappointed,” he said. “All we are asking for is some control over roughly who comes in and roughly in what numbers.”

Last Friday morning, Nigel Farage also told Good Morning Britain that the claim written on the side of the Vote Leave Battle Bus – that leaving the EU would release £350m a week that could be spent on the NHS – was "a mistake". "It wasn’t one of my adverts," he said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in