Now, I'm no @Jim_Cornelius but when Chloe Westley from Taxpayers Alliance on @MarrShow today claimed that food would be 17% cheaper after brexit, something didn't ring true. The claim was completely unchallenged by @bbcnickrobinson. So, let's take a look 1/
The claim comes from the 2017 TPA paper 'why the cost of living is so high' and the reference is here. So, let's take a look at the Halligan & Lyon reference. 2/ 
That reference is to the group 'Policy Exchange'. Now, where have I seen TPA and Policy Exchange together before? Oh, that's right: 3/
So let's take a look at that paper. As a first glance, it's clear that only the hardest of brexit so will do: 4/
The reference to 17% increase in food prices can be found here. It further references another paper to be found in the footnotes: 5/
And here it is. That's right, the reference is to Minford and his posse. The EFB website is no longer active it seems, but fortunately the footnote includes the source of the 17% claim: 6/
That's right, Chloe Westley of Taxpayers Alliance is quoting a govt paper from 1971. It's even simple maths: 6 years * 2.5% = 17%. Well, roundabout 17% anyway. Maybe the BBC should issue a list of corrections at the end of each show? END.
