BORIS Johnson is under mounting pressure over his plan to leave the European Union after his Government blocked the release of estimated poverty levels under Brexit.

The Tory Government admitted that the impact assessments exist, but claimed publication would damage the public interest.

Johnson last week moved to suspend Parliament in what critics believe was a bid to ensure that the UK leaves the EU on October 31.

The new Prime Minister has said his preference is to leave with an agreement, but he is also believed to be relaxed about crashing out of the 27-member block without a deal.

Anti-Brexit campaigners argue that the UK’s departure will hit the economy, wipe out jobs, raise prices for consumers, and harm the poor.

The Glasgow-based Poverty Alliance submitted a number of questions to the UK Government last month about the effect of Brexit on people who are struggling financially.

Under freedom of information legislation, they asked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for any impact assessments or analyses of Brexit on poverty, inequality and on those on low incomes. The same question was asked in relation to wages, employment and the cost of living.

In response, the DWP confirmed holding “some” of the information, but claimed that an exemption under the FOI law meant they did not have to hand over the figures. Officials claimed the public interest would not be served by disclosure:

“Good government depends on good decision-making and this needs to be based on the best advice available and a full consideration of all the options without fear of premature disclosure. If this public interest cannot be protected there is a risk that decision making will become poorer and will be recorded inadequately.

“On balance, DWP is satisfied that in this instance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Therefore, the information you seek will not be released.”

The DWP’s welfare reforms have been blamed for rising poverty levels over the last nine years of Tory Government.

Figures showed that one in five people in Scotland are living in relative poverty, while around 240,000 children face the same hardship.

Relative poverty is categorised as an income which is below 60% of what is recognised as the middle income.

UK Government figures from earlier this year also estimated that a no-deal Brexit could leave the economy between 6.3% to 9% smaller after fifteen years.

The forecast found that the worst-hit areas economically included Scotland, which could witness an 8% fall.

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance: “The UK Government’s failure to disclose the analysis they’ve undertaken on Brexit’s impact on poverty is alarming. We’re a society that believes in justice and compassion, and it is clearly in the public interest to know whether Brexit – especially a no-deal Brexit – will inflict harm upon people already struggling to get by.

“The UK Government must fully disclose this analysis, and think carefully about pursuing any Brexit scenario that pulls people even deeper into poverty.”

Neil Gray MP, the SNP’s social justice spokesperson, said:

“The DWP’s refusal to publish internal analysis highlighting the impact that Brexit will have on poverty levels, wages, and low income households, is a damning indictment of a Tory government intent on inflicting a damaging policy no matter the price ordinary people and families will have to pay.

“The Tories can no longer continue to duck and dive scrutiny – they must publish this secret analysis without any further delay.”