Wetherspoon boss accuses ‘elite Remainers’ of ignoring gains from no-deal Brexit as pub chain’s profits drop

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The head of JD Wetherspoon, a prominent Brexit supporter, has lambasted “elite Remainers” for ignoring the benefits of a no-deal exit, such as lower costs for businesses, as the pub chain reported a fall in profits and higher costs. He added: “Elite Remainers are ignoring the ‘big picture’, regarding lower input costs and more democracy, and are mistakenly concentrating on assumed short-term problems, such as potential delays at Channel ports – which are easier to extrapolate on their computer models.” In comments running over a page long, Mr Martin singled out the MPs and bishops who are either pro-EU or against a no-deal Brexit, pointing out three times that many of them went to Oxbridge. “Businesses still expect their output, employment and investment to fall by around 1 to 3 per cent over the next year in the event of no deal,” Mark Carney noted, adding to his comments in July that firms also expect costs to go up. Last week, the pub chain announced a 20p cut in the price of a pint of British-brewed beer in a stunt Mr Martin claimed shows how prices would fall after Brexit.