The claim
“The UK economy has taken a 6% hit from the effects of Brexit, according to economists’ analysis of internal Bank of England data on thousands of British companies since the referendum a decade ago.”
Our verdict
Partly True
The claim mixes directionally supported research with specific, unverified detail.
What we found
Multiple studies and Spiegel's retrospective confirm Brexit has measurably damaged the UK economy roughly a decade on, but the precise '6%' figure attributed to economists' analysis of 'internal Bank of England data on thousands of British companies' could not be corroborated by the supplied web evidence. Bank of England staff working papers on Brexit have produced estimates in a broadly similar range, but the specific methodology Burnham describes (internal BoE data, thousands of firms, exactly 6%) is not verifiable from the sources retrieved. The claim is therefore partly true: the economic-cost framing is supported, but the precise number and provenance are unconfirmed.
The evidence
4 sources, all background: none settles the claim either way.
- Background
Spiegel's retrospective 'So stark hat der Brexit der Wirtschaft geschadet' (ten years after the EU referendum) confirms substantial economic damage from Brexit over the decade since the referendum.
spiegel.de· Brexit materially damaged UK economy - Background
Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung notes trade with the EU was strongly restricted and investment declined after Brexit, with negative economic consequences widely anticipated.
bpb.de· Trade and investment restrictions took effect - Background
Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg dossier confirms UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020 and exited the single market and customs union on 1 January 2021, with negative economic consequences anticipated.
lpb-bw.de· Background context: Brexit process and lingering divisions - Background
Sueddeutsche Zeitung describes Andy Burnham as the new UK Prime Minister (seventh head of government in ten years), making Brexit a politically central theme in his opening Commons address.
sueddeutsche.de· Burnham as newly installed Prime Minister
How we checked
We reviewed 4 relevant sources.
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