As we are talking about Brexit again maybe I can offer a few thoughts. The much-quoted estimate by the OBR that Brexit has cost us 4% of our GDP is now considered an underestimate. More recent estimates suggest an 8% hit or even higher. Just google the question “what has Brexit cost the UK economy?”  Then try googling “what are the benefits of Brexit to the UK?” and all you get are intangibles about independence, freedom to make our own laws, and of course sovereignty. No hint that there has been any economic upside even with those new trade deals. The arguments for getting closer to the EU are essentially economic, meaning improvements to our terms of trade. And top of the agenda in the recent elections? Cost of living, jobs, growth or the lack of it. Some of that could come with a better EU trade deal. The other tragedy of Brexit is geopolitical. The Brexiteers saw a trade deal with the US as the answer to losing access to the EU single market and they saw a still closer relationship with the USA (“the guarantor of our security”) as the way forward. That’s not turning out well is it? To me, there is no sensible alternative to ensuring we have the best possible relationship with our European neighbours. Not just because the US, with or without Trump, is increasingly isolationist, and no longer a close and reliable security partner, but also because the much-vaunted deals with faster growing economies in the Asia-Pacific are unlikely to deliver anything like the economic benefits that might offset the economic hit of leaving the single market. Another crucial point about those Far East markets - long, fragile and vulnerable supply chains. The Iran crisis makes this clear. And I’m not sure making us more dependent on the Suez Canal and Red Sea routes makes any sense either. There is also huge concern about illegal immigration. I agree it’s a serious problem which Brexit has only made harder to address (ask Google, again!).  Legal immigration soared while Johnson was PM. Why? We need them to do the jobs Brits don’t want to do, but of course now they’re coming from Commonwealth countries rather than the EU. The people are even more unhappy! I’m not convinced we need to rejoin the EU but I do believe a much closer alignment is a geopolitical and economic necessity.

Entire Thread

Topic	Date Posted	Posted By
Reform - really not racist ...	10/05/26 15:58:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reform - really not racist ...	10/05/26 16:44:00	Ivonne Holliday
Reply	10/05/26 17:59:00	Sue Hammond
Re:Reply	10/05/26 18:23:00	Robert Wheeler
Re:Re:Reply	10/05/26 18:37:00	Ivonne Holliday
Re:Re:Re:Reply	10/05/26 19:00:00	Steven Rose
Reply	10/05/26 20:10:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	10/05/26 21:11:00	Sue Hammond
Reply	10/05/26 21:23:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	11/05/26 10:19:00	Ivonne Holliday
Reply	11/05/26 00:38:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	11/05/26 11:59:00	John Hawkes
Reply	11/05/26 13:12:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	11/05/26 16:10:00	John Hawkes
Reply	11/05/26 10:37:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	11/05/26 12:14:00	John Hawkes
Re:Reform - really not racist ...	11/05/26 11:53:00	John Hawkes
Reply	11/05/26 12:44:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	11/05/26 13:40:00	Steven Rose
Re:Reply	11/05/26 16:58:00	John Hawkes
Reply	11/05/26 19:59:00	Michael Ixer
Reply	11/05/26 17:57:00	Sue Hammond
Re:Reply	11/05/26 18:13:00	Lucille Grant
Reply	11/05/26 20:09:00	Michael Ixer
Reply	11/05/26 20:30:00	Michael Ixer
Reply	11/05/26 18:20:00	Michael Ixer
Re:Reply	11/05/26 19:37:00	Jonathan Callaway
Re:Re:Reply	11/05/26 21:46:00	Steven Rose
Re:Re:Re:Reply	11/05/26 23:09:00	Jonathan Callaway
Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 07:13:00	Robert Wheeler
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 08:05:00	Jonathan Callaway
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 08:57:00	Robert Wheeler
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 09:31:00	Ivonne Holliday
Reply	12/05/26 10:01:00	Martine Guy
Re:Reply	12/05/26 10:53:00	Ivonne Holliday
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 09:34:00	Steven Rose
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 09:48:00	Ivonne Holliday
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply	12/05/26 10:44:00	Steven Rose

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