A hard Brexit could lead to the loss of 1,700 jobs from the borough, figures have predicted.

New figures from Cambridge Econometrics show that if the UK leaves the European Union in March 2019 with no deal on the single market or Customs Union there will be 154,800 jobs in Barnet in 2030.

This is compared to 156,500 jobs if the UK was to remain in the single market and Customs Union, meaning 1,700 jobs could be lost in a hard Brexit.

But Conservative MPs in Barnet have called into question the reliability of the figures, which predict a potential loss of economic growth and jobs for the UK as a whole.

The figures were commissioned and published by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who said the analysis also shows 87,000 fewer jobs in London and 482,000 fewer jobs across the UK if no deal is able to be negotiated.

He said: "Barnet residents and businesses will be shocked to learn of the huge economic risks – and human costs – at stake in the Brexit negotiations.

"It is up to the government to secure a Brexit deal that protects Barnet from a decade of lower growth and fewer jobs -

my worry is that because of the government’s mishandling of the negotiations, time is running out if they are to secure jobs, growth and prosperity in Barnet, across London and throughout the entire UK.

"This analysis shows why the government should now change its approach and negotiate a deal that enables us to remain in both the single market and the Customs Union."

The findings are based on five possible Brexit scenarios, and both the Mayor and Cambridge Econometrics are clear the analysis is not a precise forecast, but does highlight the comparative risks associated with each scenario.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, who campaigned to leave the EU before the referendum, said: "The economic disaster which some said would occur if we voted to leave the EU has not happened.

"I do not believe the Mayor's predictions will prove to be any more reliable than those made before the referendum vote. "The economy is performing strongly with unemployment at its lowest levels for 40 years and record levels of foreign direct investment coming to the UK.

"I want to see a wide-ranging trade agreement with the EU but whatever the outcome of the negotiations, London will still be doing huge amounts of business with customers in the EU, as do many cities across the world which are located in countries outside the single market."

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer agreed with Ms Villiers concern over the reliability of the figures, calling on the Mayor to focus on issues within his remit.

He said: "The government is working hard to get comprehensive trade deal with the EU – a deal which works for everyone.

"Speculative economic predictions for a decade hence are not worth the paper they are written on and all the Mayor of London has achieved is to waste more London taxpayers’ money.

"Instead, the Mayor should focus on issues within his remit, particularly policing which is going backwards under this Mayor."

A spokesman from the Department for Exiting the European Union said: "The fact is we are working to secure the best and most ambitious Brexit deal for the whole of the United Kingdom and December's European Council showed that, having made sufficient progress, both sides believe we will achieve an ambitious deal securing prosperity for the UK and EU27.

"We have made good progress, having reached an agreement with the EU on some very difficult issues such as citizens rights and the financial settlement, and we are looking forward to starting the next round of negotiations.

"The UK wants a deep and special partnership with the European Union, a partnership that spans a new economic relationship and a new relationship on security."