Wigwam – “I could equally ask what are ten things that would benefit Britain if we had stayed in the EU. Neither of us can predict the future.”
No, but Economists can. Here are a few things that Brexit has already done for Britain (off the ‘top of my head’, so it’s a bit rough and ready, but we can get the gist):
Our currency instantly lost 15% after Referendum result. (Remember “shrinkflation”?) It has taken four and a half years to claws back to being worth 91% of what it was worth in May 2016.
Our Economy has shrunk. Even if we manage to get an ‘Average’ Trade Agreement with the EU our GDP will be down by 5%+ and would take 15 years to recover to pre-Referendum levels.
Our global reputation is zero.
Britain is no longer the ‘gateway into the EU’ for the USA – politics and trade. USA already dealing directly with Germany and France.
International investment has lost billions
Financial Services have lost £billions and many have moved HQ to EU – can’t Trade in EU without EU ‘presence’.
Scotland wouldn’t be arguing for another Independence Referendum
Ireland wouldn’t be causing problems with both the EU and USA (NI Business leaders asking for yet another extension)
More red tape due to import/export paperwork – extra 50,000 new jobs needed to cope (not set up)
We should be getting Covid vaccine from EU – Extra Paperwork = delays?
Lorry queues and Docks back-logged (expansion not completed, Red Tape systems not set up)
Permits – only 1/4 of our lorries will be able to travel to and from EU due to lack of Permits = shortages of everything
Meat exports – farming can’t cope with EU ‘frozen only’ rules for imported meat
Agriculture – not enough farm workers to lift crops and gather harvests
Probable Food shortages – even with fully staffed farms we can’t feed ourselves (haven’t been able to do that since c.1750), let alone cover what can’t be imported. 85% of the veg we eat comes from the EU (potatoes from France, tomatoes and onions from the Netherlands, cauliflower and celery from Spain). In winter Britain relies on EU for fresh fruit and veg.
Shortage of Health Service staff – we’ve having to give cash bribes to get enough doctors, nurses, cleaning staff to come back from the EU to work here.
Having to spend millions improving our anti-Terrorism Security Services as no longer accessing EU Security
Having to create our own Sat-Nav system as we will no longer have access to EU satellites
Having to spend millions setting up our own Satellite Launching Centre in Cornwall because we can no longer use ESA rockets.
no longer fast-tracked at customs
Return to Roaming charges for international calls
Johnson and Co. have been rude and offensive toward EU leaders. EU is sick of dealing with us. They have other issues to deal with (Hungary-Poland problem, Covid 19). Don’t expect any quarter. The EU CAN continue with barely a shrug without the UK. The can cover the losses far more easily than the UK can. Unless Bo-Zo can get a tissue-thin Deal or begs for yet another extension on the extension, from January 1st they EU are finished with us.