WEF founder Klaus Schwab (Image: Getty)

       The World Economic Forum (WEF) has been accused of manipulating data to portray Brexit in a negative light. Klaus Schwab, the founder of the summit, allegedly intervened in its annual Global Competitiveness Report, which ranks countries on productivity and long-term prosperity.

       The UK's position jumped from seventh to fourth in 2017/18 after a change in methodology. But Mr Schwab wrote to staff saying that Britain “must not see any improvement” as it would be “exploited by the Brexit camp”.

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       The final report showed that the UK had dropped one place to eighth.

       WEF officials said at the time of the report the 2016 Brexit vote had not affected the rankings but warned the departure from the EU was likely to undermine Britain's competitiveness in future.

       Reform UK leader and arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage told The Telegraph: “Every conspiracy theory about Klaus Schwab now turns out to be true. He is a dangerous globalist manipulator.”

       Tory Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel added: “For such a senior figure in geopolitical affairs to have conspired and manipulated information against Brexit and the democratic outcome of a political process is a stain on the reputation of the WEF and those who are part of that forum, and it is thoroughly unacceptable.

       Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the WEF over the claims (Image: Getty)

       “The WEF had built its reputation on geopolitical thought leadership but has now been exposed for its own anti democratic practices, sinister manipulation and corrupted process all based upon damaging Britain’s reputation and standing in the world because of Schwab’s narrow minded and selfish ideological purposes.”

       Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said: “No surprise the globalist WEF appears to have distorted facts to prevent sovereignty and independence being seen as a good thing. They are a dreadful organisation that Reform will have nothing to do with.”

       The UK had voted to leave at the time of the report but tortuous Brexit negotiations were underway and there was also pressure for a re-run of the referendum.

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       Allegations that Mr Schwab ordered the figures to be changed were made in an internal WEF investigation after a whistleblower accused him of misusing funds, making suggestive remarks to younger staff, and manipulating research, Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung reports.

       Mr Schwab denies any claims of misconduct telling the paper “I am in a position to refute all the accusations brought up against me".

       He resigned from his WEF role in April after the claims emerged.

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