NEW research has identified Middlesbrough as one of the areas where a ‘soft Brexit’ would have the most damaging impact.

While researchers at the think tank Centre for Cities and the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the London School of Economics have identified Aberdeen as the UK city predicted to be the worst affected by a ‘hard Brexit’.

They analysed the potential impact of both a “hard” and “soft” Brexit on British cities in the ten years following the implementation of new trade arrangements with the EU.

Economic output in cities is predicted to be 1.2 per cent lower on average under a soft Brexit where the UK joins a free trade area with the EU, whereas it will be 1.3 per cent in Middlesbrough.

Aberdeen tops the list for worst-affected city in both scenarios, with output down 3.7 per cent under a hard Brexit, and down 2.1 per cent under a soft Brexit.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “Contrary to much of the received wisdom on Brexit, it is the most prosperous UK cities which will be hit hardest by the downturn ahead, but poorer places across the North and Midlands will find it tougher to adapt.”