Britain’s government has spent at least 4.4 billion pounds of taxpayers’ money on preparations to leave the European Union, the public spending watchdog said on Friday, in the first detailed estimate of the cost of Brexit.

The U.K. government has spent at least 4.4 billion pounds ($5.7 billion) preparing for Brexit since the 2016 referendum, according to figures released by the National Audit Office.

The National Audit Office warned the Government must be better prepared for all scenarios when dealing with future challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic.

National Audit Office study also highlights failure to get to grips with scale of challenge

The government paid out £97m to consultants for Brexit preparations, a watchdog has found.

NAO to examine £120m Unboxed project after MPs call it an ‘irresponsible use of public money’.

Businesses will have to adjust to new trading conditions in the middle of a pandemic.

2.8 million attended live events, organisers reveal – but project branded ‘colossal waste of money’. / The £120m arts festival known as the Festival of Brexit has been “very successful”, its director has claimed, despite falling far short of its target for visitors.

The British government has spent about 70% of the funds allocated to cover the cost of Brexit preparations. The money mostly went to cover staff costs, new infrastructure and gathering external expertise.

Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union cost the taxpayer more than £4 billion in additional government costs, the Whitehall spending watchdog has found.

An investigation has been launched into the £120million so-called "festival of Brexit".

The government's so-called "Festival of Brexit" is to be investigated by the public spending watchdog after it was reported the £120m project attracted less than 1% of its targeted visitors.