THE CBI, a confederation of UK businesses, was lambasted for its 'Project Fear' predictions before the Brexit vote, however the recent announcement of fresh job losses could vindicate the group.

Yesterday, Jaguar Land Rover declared that it would lay off up to 5,000 employees, in part because of Brexit turmoil.

However, the company did emphasise that its decision was also because of a downturn in sales in China.

Ford also announced cuts yesterday and warned that there would be more job losses if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.

It seems that the pre-referendum predictions of the CBI, which were dismissed as scaremongering by Brexiteers, are slowly materialising.

In March 2016, the CBI warned that leaving the EU could cost the UK economy £100billion and 950,000 jobs by 2020.

Since the vote, the group has been consistently ridiculed by Leavers, who insist that a prosperous future awaits Britain outside of the EU.

A clip of a victory speech by Dominic Cummings, the Vote Leave campaign director, who was the subject of a Channel 4 film released this week, was uploaded to Twitter on Monday.

During the video, one supporter can be heard shouting 'kill the CBI', prompting a ripple of laughter.

It's just one example of how the Brexit debate has poisoned British politics.

Another example was Tory MP Anna Soubry being abused by the far-right bully James Goddard, this week.

As one of the 'yellow vests' stationed outside Westminster, Goddard and his clan continually harangue politicians and journalists, calling them 'traitors' and 'Nazis'.

However, Remainers are not the only ones being targeted.

Leavers have also been subjected to abuse, such as the harassment of arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg's family by activists.

Brexit has divided this country and it is right that there should be proper scrutiny of those involved, however the vicious attacks on institutions and politicians benefits no one and will only deter youngsters from engaging in politics.

Both sides of the debate should use reason, instead of vitriol, to prove their points, otherwise we risk turning our democracy into a toxic cesspit.