Former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Gove has robustly defended the infamous Brexit campaign bus slogan, insisting the claim that the UK sent £350 million a week to the European Union was "literally the truth".
The Contentious Claim That Still Enrages
In a recent interview on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, a key architect of the Leave campaign addressed the bus emblazoned with the message: 'We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead'. Mr Gove admitted the vehicle remains a deeply contentious symbol, stating it still "enrages people on the Remain side to this day".
He batted away longstanding criticism from the independent fact-checking charity Full Fact, which has repeatedly challenged the figure. Full Fact argues the UK never paid £350 million a week net, never owed such a sum to the bloc, and that the claim ignored the economic impact of leaving the EU's single market.
Economic Reality Versus Political Rhetoric
Mr Gove's defence comes amid stark analysis of Brexit's economic consequences. Research last month from the think tank UK in a Changing Europe estimated that Brexit has imposed a large and persistent cost. Their findings suggest UK GDP per capita is now 6–8% lower than if the country had remained. Investment was found to be 12–18% lower, with productivity and employment also significantly reduced.
Despite this, Mr Gove expressed no regret. He argued the £350 million figure was an "underestimate" of funds the EU controlled, and that the subsequent debate allowed ample time for it to be scrutinised. "The argument that there were dreadful lies that seduced people out of their common sense, I think, is wrong," he stated.
A Debate Too Divisive for Facts?
When pressed on whether the NHS subsequently received an extra £350 million a week from Brexit savings, Mr Gove asserted more money did go into the health service. However, he suggested the debate had become so polarised that factual arguments were futile.
"I can recite facts and figures forever... I will never convince anyone on the other side," he said, comparing the entrenched positions to religious belief. He dismissed Full Fact's analysis and notably disagreed with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has also distanced himself from the bus claim.
Mr Gove concluded by framing the slogan as a prediction that was ultimately exceeded, stating: "We ended up spending or devoting significantly more than £350 million a week to the NHS. A fat lot of good it did the Conservatives politically, but sincere good that it did for the NHS."
