I may be imagining this, but it's almost like they want to reverse Brexit. Whether it's the Beeb, ITV or sky, dolefully reporting on labour shortages, inflation or supply chain issues – conveniently ignoring the pandemic, global inflation, an energy crisis and Ukraine - the narrative across much of the media, is that Brexit is failing.
This is feeding through into polls, suggesting that a majority believe it hasn't worked out, with buyers regret, even among Brexit supporters themselves. Brexit regret surely hasn't been helped by headlines like these from across the media.
Stefan Rousseau
“The reality of Brexit is biting hard, Brexit has fuelled a surge in UK food prices, Brexit has made Britain the sick man of Europe again, Brexit has worsened shortage of NHS doctors.”
How about the Independent? “Brexit fears for toy safety, asbestos exposure and work accidents in EU laws bonfire.”
How about the BBC Brexit?: “Progress on trade deals slower than promised.”
And last but not least the Financial Times: “Brexit and the economy – the hit has been substantially negative.:
And how about this corker: “Keir Starmer must plot a bold route back to Europe for Britain.”
There they are, hiding in plain sight. They want us back in.
Of course all of this is bunkum, but why let a headline and a political agenda, get in the way of a good story. There is of course a short to medium term economic impact from Brexit – no one is denying that. It's a huge change to our country, it's a bumpy transition, but when it's done it's done. And there are plenty of commentators, who believe that most of the pain from that transition, is now behind us, with most companies already tooled up and prepared, for a new way of doing business.
In spite of these inevitable headwinds, the reality is that Brexit was an instant success. It saw an immediate end to the payment of £2 billion a month, to Brussels. Over two decades, that's the entire cost of the pandemic. Happy days. It was an instant insurance policy against being a member of the United States of Europe, a country which take my word for it is coming. It was an instant insurance policy against being part of a single European army – why would we seek to avoid that?
Look at the EU’s disastrous, hesitant and obstructive approach to the Ukraine invasion, with the likes of Germany with their foot on the brakes due to their reliance on Russian gas. For too long, Berlin appeased Moscow. How charming.
Brexit was an instant insurance policy against ever having the Euro, a one size fits all currency which would have been against the British national interest.
Brexit was an instant success in relation to the control of our borders. Notwithstanding the current challenges in the channel, we now decide who enters the country.
And with net migration at half a million last year, wildly unsustainable of course, that figure would be even higher, if we weren't out of the block. By the way, if Britain is such an intolerant hateful country, why did half a million people choose to make their lives here, in one calendar year? A population the size of Liverpool? I'm so confused.
File photo dated 31/03/2017 of the Union flag and the EU flag flying from the same mast. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will hold crunch talks with the vice president of the European Commission in the coming hours as ministers consider whether to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. Issue date: Thursday May 12, 2022.
Jane Barlow
Brexit was an instant success for trade deals, for the vaccine rollout and it’s an insurance policy against a devastating sovereign debt crisis on the continent, which many predict is coming.
Brexit has been a success in relation to everything the public voted for – control of our laws, our borders, our money and our trade policy.
And what about the economy? Look at the most recent GDP figures we have, as pointed out by Lord Frost in the Telegraph. These are figures from the OECD just two weeks ago, covering the period from when Brexit officially happened, which was the end of 2020. Since then, Britain has grown faster than Germany, France, Italy, Spain or the Eurozone overall. As frost dryly points out, you won’t hear that on the BBC.
The remainders are regrouping, we've even got one at number 11 in the form of China admiring Jeremy Hunt, who insiders tell me is behind the Switzerland EU alignment story. The campaign to rejoin will ramp up in the months and years ahead. It will start with the snake oil language of frictionless trade and realignment, partnerships, agreements, and all the rest of it.
The media and political establishment are seeking to reverse Brexit little by little, day by day. Salami slicing our sovereignty, it’s death by a thousand cuts. Brexit brings with it huge challenges, the Northern Ireland protocol has got to go, and trade must be made easier, especially for smaller businesses who are struggling. And I want skilled Europeans still coming to this country and making their lives here. But in the end, when the politics of all of this has washed away, and if Brexit is given a chance, it will work. After all we buy more from the EU than we sell to them.
This insuperable truth ultimately gives us the upper hand.
The EU arguably need to make a success for Brexit more than us, as failure to do so will hurt them more.
Brexit is working already and like a fine wine it will improve with age. We’ve been out for 10 minutes. Give it ten years and we’ll be laughing.
Ignore the prophets of doom, and the highly politicised commentators who will stop at nothing to reverse it. If we stick with Brexit, we will make it a success. What we must avoid, is sleepwalking back into the bosom of Brussels. Brexit’s got its knockers, but it would be a boob to go back in.
