Secretary General of the OECD: There’s “no logic” to Brexit

This interview with the OECD Secretary General was recorded prior to the tragic killing of British MP Jo Cox. 

Angel Gurria, the Secretary-General of the OECD, speaks with ‘UpFront’ about Brexit: 

• Says there is “no logic in the whole approach” to Brexit
• Believes some politicians supporting Brexit are “trying to profit, advance their careers”
• Says the common thread among analysts on Brexit is that “it’s negative, it’s negative, it’s negative, it’s negative”
• Claims “already Brexit is happening in the sense that the uncertainty is costing low growth, capital flight”  

(Washington DC – 17th June, 2016) – In an interview with Al Jazeera English’s current affairs show, ‘UpFront’, Angel Gurria, the secretary-general of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), criticised Leave campaigners for “misleading”  the British public over ‘Brexit’.  

“There’s absolutely no logic in the whole [Brexit] approach,” he told ‘UpFront’ host Mehdi Hasan. “It’s bad from every single angle,” he added. “Everybody’s looking at it from different angles and the one common thread is it’s negative, it’s negative, it’s negative, it’s negative.”

Gurria also advised the UK: “Don’t shoot yourself in the foot. There’s absolutely no reason.”

While the vote to determine the future of the UK’s EU membership won’t take place till 23rd June, Gurria argued, “Already Brexit is happening in the sense that the uncertainty is costing low growth, capital flight, in the last quarter.”

During the interview, the OECD secretary-general also suggested that prominent members of the “leave campaign” may have ulterior motives for backing Brexit. “Some [Leave] politicians maybe are trying to profit, advance their careers,” he said. “It’s at the expense of the next generation.”

“The leaders of the 'Leave movement’ are not appealing to facts or figures,” he continued. “They’re appealing to emotions. They are misleading public opinion.”  

***ENDS***

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

If using quotes please credit Al Jazeera English and ‘UpFront’ and please add this link to online copy www.aljazeera.com/upfront

UpFront broadcasts on Fridays at 19.30 GMT. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront