THE Budget coverage has, perhaps understandably, focused on the Government’s breaching its manifesto promises on National Insurance Contributions, while neglecting one of the few manifesto promises it delivered, namely Brexit.

It seems astonishing that, through this entirely self-inflicted wound, the Government is getting away with crashing our economy.

In dollar terms, the new “improving” growth forecasts predict that UK GDP will not recover to its 2015 levels before 2022, even before taking population growth into account.

The pound has devalued against the US dollar by 20 per cent since the referendum, which is affecting dollar-denominated products like iPhones, air travel, oil, and food.

The economy is getting smaller, so we cannot be surprised that our per capita standard of living is falling, and that we have less to spend on welfare, education and health.

Worryingly, industrial investment is faltering and key industries like pharmaceuticals are worried about the additional costs of having to seek UK and EU approval for new drugs.

Is it possible that the Conservative Party can retain its decades-old reputation for being good at managing the economy given this unprecedented failure for which they are entirely to blame?

The Budget proves that you can’t have a hard Brexit, strong public services, and a strong economy.

It’s time for this Conservative Brexit Government to change course on a Hard Brexit, before it’s too late.

Philip Knowles, chair, Richmondshire Lib Dems