Food Prices Are Soaring And People Are Pointing Out That's Not What Brexiteers Promised
Food price inflation is continuing to soar - despite what we were all promised by Brexiteers before the referendum in 2016.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics this morning revealed that the price of food increased by a staggering 19.1% in the 12 months to March - the biggest jump since August 1977.
The huge price rises included the cost of olive oil, which has increased by 49% in the last 12 months, sugar (42%), low fat milk (39%) and eggs (32%).
Twitter users were quick to point out that those shocking figures disprove one of the key predictions made by the Leave campaign.
One Twitter user produced a video in which Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke of “the benefits of leaving the European Union, including cheaper food, clothing and footwear, which we will get when we are free to set our own economic policies”.
Ben Boulos - "Food price inflation is at 19.2%... significantly more expensive.. "
— Haggis_UK ???????? ???????? (@Haggis_UK) April 19, 2023
Jacob Rees-Mogg - "The benefits of leaving the European Union mean cheaper food, clothing & footwear" ????#BBCBreakfastpic.twitter.com/YtJVK1QgHg
Another high-profile Brexiteers, Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin, also insisted leaving the EU would mean cheaper food prices.
Tim Martin on food prices after Brexit. The high #foodinflation we are currently enjoying is because you listened to this idiots and his other Brexiteer friends.
— Brexit isn't working (@BrexitTruth) April 19, 2023
I hope you are enjoying your Brexit. pic.twitter.com/o6IqLrKde1
Others highlighted the clear disparity between what voters were told in the run-up to the referendum and the reality today.
One thing is certain - the Brexit loons who assured us we’d all be enjoying lower food prices will accept no responsibility for the absolute catastrophe they have inflicted on the poorest people in the UK. https://t.co/OG7Ebs85Ix
— JWExTheSpa (@SpaJw) April 19, 2023
UK March inflation is 10.1% with food prices inflation a whopping 19.1%.
— ???????? Frank ???????? (@ChillaxBcn) April 19, 2023
Eurozone inflation is expected to be around 6.9% and food prices inflation around 14.8%. Quite a difference if confirmed.
Whatever happened to these lower food prices thanks to Brexit? Was it another lie?
Overall inflation fell from 10.4% to 10.1% between February and March.
That was a surprise to experts who predicted it would fall below 10% and came despite Rishi Sunak’s pledge to halve it by the end of the year.