Quote Originally Posted by WBA123 View Post
Okay, I don't tend to shout it about because we all have opinions on here and I don't want it to seem like I'm any kind of expert, because I'm not. But some viewpoints on here are misinformed IMO.

I'm mid-late 30's. I went to a fairly good university where I studied Law and Economics.

I've been working in international trade and supply chain for 15+ years, since I have left University. I've negotiated with large multi-national businesses, at home and abroad, including pharmaceutical and automotive manufacturers. The information I am receiving from both sectors is that Brexit has so far been very damaging to them and will be to the UK.

I'm London based, but I've travelled with work to the United States, Middle East, Far East and across most of Europe.

I'm no expert on Brexit, but I believe I've got a fairly good amount of knowledge on EU Law, the Customs Union, the Single Market, global and domestic economics. I've got a great knowledge of supply chain and international trade.

My angle is that negotiation is about understanding each others point of view and coming to an agreement for which both sides are happy. Its not about threatening to do something which would be nonsensical. Leaving with no deal is nonsensical, but then that is what politics is right now.

It baffles me that 50% of your trade is with the EU, yet you want to make it more difficult to trade with them? Do you mind me asking if your business is reliant on JIT manufacturing? Or if you are a customer of or supplier to the EU (or both)?

Also, I'd be keen to know if you felt that your business wouldn't be affected before the vote? And now that it has been, whether you place any responsibility for this on Leave supporting politicians?

I tend to be neutral in my UK business meetings but the vast majority of the feedback I get is that business uncertainty is crippling us right now. Most Europeans (Or non Europeans even) who I'm dealing with believe Brexit is a case of self-harm, I can't help but agree...
My business is internet based retailing.

I fully expected a downturn in business in 2016 after Brexit was announced,I expected to lose around 20% of turnover and in the first few weeks after the vote that was borne out.

Then very quickly,and surprisingly to me,business rocketed and we ended the year around 15% up compared to 2015 and we then grew by 20% in 2017 and the same again in 2018 both here and across Europe with Germany and France seeing even stronger growth.

However,over the last few weeks,due to indecision and uncertainty we are down by 15-20% per day on our 2018 figures so in effect back to 2017’s turnover.

It’s clear to me that back just after the vote and over the last few weeks the thing causing the problem is UNCERTAINTY and NOT the fact we’re departing.

With respect,if you’re 37 years old ( same age as my son in law ) you can’t see this in the same perspective as us older ones who were living as teenagers and older in the 70’s.

We joined the EEC to make trading easier,that’s what my mum and dad voted for.

The country did not vote for anything other than a common marketplace.....that’s what you don’t seem to get.

20 odd years ago my dad warned me we would end up with one huge federal state due to treaties our idiots were signing up to.....the public never got asked about Maastricht and the like.

I have no doubt the initial months and first year or two will be challenging but we are British and we’ve always had backbone up until recent times,without us the Germans would be ruling Europe lock stock and barrel.

I went to Australia in January and saw a country that has a strong identity.

I asked a lot of Aussies about their philosophy and what they thought of Brexit.

Their opinion is that they like the way that with their constitution the feeling is that if you don’t like what we’re are and what we stand for then you can “do one”,they don’t back down.

They think we should stand on our own two feet,that’s my feeling too.

Too much unelected dog wagging sovereign tail for too long.

WTO rules will make things much harder for a period but I’ll live with that.