As the country marked five years since the historic referendum, the Independent Business Network (IBN) looked at the apocalyptic predictions that many Remainers said would have happened in the event of Brexit. Its report rubbished many of them, instead showing that Global Britain continues to attract international investment in its droves.

       The report also slammed “pro-Remain” business and economic groups, including the IMF, OECD and CBI, for repeatedly underselling the benefits of leaving the EU.

       John Longworth, the IBN’s chairman, said: “The UK’s decision to leave the EU five years ago has proven to be the right one.

       “The continued GDP growth has confounded all expectations of Remain, the ability to write our own regulations has allowed The City to remain the top destination in Europe for financial services investment, and we have made a great start on securing mutually beneficial trade deals with the rest of the world.

       “Not only does this report serve to highlight how wrong the many critics of Brexit were in 2016 with their predictions, more importantly it acts as a warning to those in power.

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       “A warning that they should stop listening to policy advice from groups such as the CBI who only now half-heartedly back Brexit to stay relevant.

       “Those who did not support Brexit then should not be advising on policy to take advantage of Brexit now.

       “We are in a great position to achieve super growth. But to achieve this we need the right policies in place.

       “Prioritising family-run and owned businesses, which have been the backbone of our economy since the end of the Second World War, is essential to ensure that the government not only achieves super growth, but does it in a sustainable way, that does not risk our economy overheating and will aid the desired levelling-up agenda.”

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       The report’s findings mirror an attractiveness survey by accountancy firm EY which found that the UK, France and Germany are virtually tied in their appeal to foreign investors.

       It also said that the UK ranks top among investors for the most credible and investment friendly post-Covid recovery plans.

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       11.08am update: Brexit warning: Failure to scrap EU rules will be ‘body blow to UK’, ex-MEP warns court

       With a court ruling into the Northern Ireland Protocol looming, Ben Habib has warned any verdict which fails to declare the arrangements illegal will be a "body blow" for the region.

       However, the former Brexit Party MEP said regardless of the result, he would continue to campaign against the controversial mechanism for preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland, which critics claim has instead resulted in a border down the Irish Sea.

       The court is scheduled to reveal its decision on Wednesday, with Mr Habib - who has been instrumental in bringing the judicial review to the High Court of Northern Ireland - planning to fly to Belfast specially.

       He told Express.co.uk: “The treatment of the people of Northern Ireland both by Westminster and the EU is contemptuous.

       “Behind closed doors the British government and EU Commission decided on a new constitutional settlement for Northern Ireland. That constitution put a partition down the Irish Sea and condemned Northern Ireland to swathes of EU laws.”

       10.11am: Polling guru Curtice issues damning Brexit warning to Starmer before crunch by-election

       Sir Keir Starmer has been issued a damning Brexit warning by polling guru Sir John Curtice ahead of next week's Batley and Spen by-election, with Labour's failure to "reconnect" with Vote Leave voters possibly proving to be a costly error.

       The crucial by-election was triggered following a decision from Labour MP Tracy Brabin to quit Westminster following her election as the first mayor of West Yorkshire earlier this month. Ms Brabin had been Labour's MP in Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire - like Hartlepool another marginal Red Wall seat - since 2016.

       The seat had been represented by Jo Cox until she was shot and stabbed by a far-right extremist in June 2016. Last month, Labour announced selected Kim Leadbeater, the sister of Jo Cox, as its candidate for the constituency's by-election.

       Polling guru Sir John Curtice, who is also a Politics Professor at the University of Strathclyde, told Express.co.uk: "What has been clear is saying nothing about Brexit, which Labour has been doing, doesn't help to reconnect with Leave voters.

       "Judging from the recent Hartlepool by-election, is Labour has not had much success in reconnecting with Leave voters.

       "It is still very reliant on Remain voters, the Brexit divide is still there, and Labour has not had much success winning lack voters, and the minority in Batley-and-Spen would underline that."

       9.49am update: Elton John attacks Johnson over Brexit's affect on live performance

       Elton John has attacked the British government failing to acknowledge how Brexit has hit touring musicians and performers.

       Speaking to the Observer New Review, the veteran star said Boris Johnson's administration had no grasp of the huge income normally generated by British artists working abroad.

       “I’m livid about what the government did when Brexit happened," he said.

       "They made no provision for the entertainment business, and not just for musicians, actors and film directors, but for the crews, the dancers, the people who earn a living by going to Europe.

       “We’ve been talking to Lord Strasburger about it, and we’ve been talking to Lord Frost, but we didn’t really get anywhere with him.

       “It’s a nightmare. To young people just starting a career, it’s crucifying.”

       9.32am update: 'Project Fear was Project Delusion!' Brexit 'EXCEEDS' expectation - strong growth forecast

       Brexit has been an "unalloyed success" which has "exceeded expectations" and set the country up for decades of growth and innovation, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said.

       The verdict of the senior cabinet minister has come in an article to mark the fifth anniversary of the historic EU referendum result on June 23 last week. It comes as a report by the Independent Business Network (IBN) chaired by former Brexit Party MEP John Longworth has concluded that the Remainer’s “Project Fear has proven to be Project Delusion”.

       It believes the UK is “on course for strong economic growth.”

       Mr Kwarteng said that despite the covid pandemic “Britain is already reaping the rewards” of the vote in 2016 highlighting the success of the vaccine programme, shaking off EU state aid rules, using new powers to encourage research and development, and pointing to analysis which shows the UK is the top destination for overseas in investors in Europe.