Quote Originally Posted by mickd1961 View Post
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.
'Backbone' doesn't provide tariff free access to the largest trading bloc in the worldwide. It doesn't make smart decisions or negotiate the best deals. Intelligence does that. This debacle has been anything but intelligent.

I personally can't work out why so many people over 50 supported Leave and also harp on about the war. The war should have nothing to do with leaving the EU, this is a future economical decision - not a historical one. I can't understand why connotations are being made with it.

In terms of what we did and didn't vote for, we elect MP's to make those decisions for us. We cannot hold a referendum for every decision this country wants to make, we'll be forever in the voting booth. We elect politicians who appoint and make decisions. This is the same in every democracy.

With respect, if you're 57 you've lived through the longest peace time era we've had in centuries. Where an environment has been created that has supported business, with the EU's help. That has helped create the conditions for your business to set up and thrive. Did you think about your Children and Grandchildren during the vote? What if they wanted to live or work in an EU country, that right is in the process of being taken away. What if they want to set up a business in the future like you have, but are now fully governed by a party who's recent cabinet minister said 'f&ck business'...?

I just find it bizarre you are supporting the very thing that is causing this uncertainty, which you now believe is holding your business back. What is it you personally hope to gain from leaving the EU? I'm not talking about the UK, but you personally. What makes you think leaving the EU will improve your life and business prospects? Do you understand the impact of what WTO rules are and may mean for your business?

Btw, I don't want this to come across as condescending, I'm just trying to understand your position.