Sunak marks Brexit anniversary by claiming benefits will ‘continue to empower communities’ – UK politics live

Good morning. At 11pm the UK will mark the third anniversary of the moment that it left the European Union. Increasingly, by a margin of around 60% to 40%, Britons are saying that this was a mistake, but in the Conservative party conceding anything like this would amount to a thought crime, such is the grip the Brexiters have on the party, and instead ministers are marking the anniversary by talking up the supposed benefits.

© Provided by The Guardian Polling on Brexit Photograph: Polling on Brexit/What UK Thinks

Still, what the government is saying about Brexit is still considerably less upbeat than what Boris Johnson and his colleagues were saying, or promising, this time three years ago. This is what Rishi Sunak said about the anniversary in a statement released overnight.

In the three years since leaving the EU, we’ve made huge strides in harnessing the freedoms unlocked by Brexit to tackle generational challenges. Whether leading Europe’s fastest vaccine rollout, striking trade deals with over 70 countries or taking back control of our borders, we’ve forged a path as an independent nation with confidence.

And in my first 100 days as prime minister, that momentum hasn’t slowed – we’re cutting red tape for businesses, levelling up through our freeports, and designing our own, fairer farming system to protect the British countryside.

This is just the beginning of our plans to deliver on our five priorities, including growing the economy so we can create better paid jobs, and I’m determined to ensure the benefits of Brexit continue to empower communities and businesses right across the country.

But it is not a good day to be going on about growing the economy, with the IMF saying it expects the UK to be the only G7 country where the economy will shrink this year. My colleague Graeme Wearden has been covering the reaction to this on his business live blog.

Related: Britain to be worst-performing major economy this year, warns IMF; Tesco shake-up hits jobs – business live

Here is the agenda for the day.

Morning: Rishi Sunak chairs cabinet.

10am: Philippa Hird, chair of the NHS pay review body, gives evidence to the Commons health committee.

11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

11.30am: James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, takes questions in the Commons.

After 12.30pm: MPs debate Labour motions, first on neighbourhood policing, and then on a binding demand for the government to publish whatever analysis it did before the autumn statement on the case for abolishing non-dom status.

2.30pm: Antonia Romeo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, and other officials give evidence to the Commons justice committee on the work of the department.

4.30pm: Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, is due to speak to Tory MP at the 1922 Committee.

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