‘Who are you to threaten the EU?’ - Sky News presenter to Iain Duncan Smith

Iain Duncan Smith appears on Sky News with Adam Boulton. Photograph: Sky. - Credit: Archant

Iain Duncan Smith has claimed – that despite all of the evidence – the impact of Brexit will be ‘short-term’ and has denied it is affecting jobs.

In a television interview with Sky News’ All Out Politics, Duncan Smith claimed that he had ‘intelligence’ to suggest the EU were not expecting Britain to increase preparations for a no deal Brexit.

He said: ‘I think they are acting in worry now, because the truth is you cannot have a Plan A without a Plan B. Because negiotiations requires that the other side believe that you will do something if you failed.

‘What they need to understand is the EU has a plan to Leave if they do not agree a deal and then there are other aspects you need to negiotiate around that.’

Asked about his claims that the EU needed to ‘damn well step up to the plate’ days before, presenter Adam Boulton said: ‘Who are you – a Tory Brexiteer – to threaten a union of 27 countries?’

Duncan Smith responded: ‘I am not threatening them at all, I am just saying it is in their interests to make sure they are sensible and reasonable about the process.’

He continued to deny that jobs were going to be lost as a result of the Brexiteers’ vision.

When presented with tangible examples of companies axing jobs he said ‘that’s what we hear’ before blaming the car industries for ‘making bad decisions’ by not investing in electric motors.

Asked for his verdict on the housing markets tanking in the prosperous parts of the country, like in his London consistuency, he denied it was a bad thing.

He said: ‘I don’t believe these things are forever – house prices go up and prices go down.

‘In a sense all of these things are in a way short-term. What we have to emphasise the UK is the fifth largest economy in the world, and we will do well whatever the circumstances.’