O/T:- Tangible Brexit Dividends

[forwardmagpie]

I’m sure it’ll save quite a few in Australia a few quid. I’m sure it’ll make quite a few quid for some people as well, especially the farmers.

The question is when will people over here admit we’ve been done over. As we’ve seen from this thread, they either don’t want to talk about it, or it’s all Covid’s fault.

How much of the downsides that we were advised of during the Brexit debate have happened BFP, yes I know it’s a stupid question after such a short period of time!

[Mapperleypie]

Come on chaps surely there are some Tangible Brexit Dividends that you can list. The Vote Leave campaign were adamant that it would make all of our lives better in the UK and since 2016 those that voted leave have been delighted with winning.

What things have you won that have made your life tangibly better? There must be something. I'm trying to be positive here.

[Mapperleypie]

How much of the downsides that we were advised of during the Brexit debate have happened BFP, yes I know it’s a stupid question after such a short period of time!

That's not really how it works forward. When a side wins an election you don't look at the oppositions manifesto to see what the losing promised but has not happened, they are not in charge - the PM of the time resigned the day after. Obviously the remain campaign didn't sway enough of the general public to get over the line. The Leave camping are now in charge, this the most Brexit government ever with MP's hand-picked to enact the wishes of Johnson and Gove to 'Get Brexit Done'. They are now completely running the show to push through the 'Oven-Ready Deal' with an 80 seat majority. What is it that leave promised that is now making your life better?

[LaxtonLad]

Strolling through Bingham marketplace yesterday I espied a COVID testing tent and after talking to the chappie at the entrance, entered. I have already had both my jabs but the lads there said I should still take another test, so I did. They said I would get the results in about 45 minutes so off I went and had an ice-cream. Sure enough the results came through on my phone telling me I was not infected but the results WERE NOT CONCLUSIVE and I could still be infected!

There were three assistants in that tent, plus cost of the tent, chairs, barriers etc, single use testing equipment, protective clothing (I was given three masks to use) and two boxes of tests to take home, all to tell me I might or might not be a carrier or have COVID without symptoms, nothing definite either way. I could have told them that for free.

[ncfcog]

I try not to get too involved in these arguments as there is never a clear winner either way. To answer the OP's question as a business owner I would say not a great deal has changed for me in my sector. I still buy and sell into and out of Europe in the same way I did before and interest from the US has in fact increased and I'm sending some stuff over to a prospective distributor today which could be very good for us.

I have to pay vat on imports from Europe now but if I time it right I can make sure I get that back on my quarterly VAT bill. There is of course a decline in the number of EU migrant workers now available in certain sectors, doing those manual jobs no one else will do. The good news for me is that I'm specialising in process automation so we are now getting more enquiries. I would see that as a tangible Brexit benefit to me but of course what's good for one isn't always good for another.

I also now have big manufacturer's wanting to use our services to build systems because they are struggling to get these services from overseas now. So again another benefit.

I do believe though that if you are benefiting in one way you should try and give back in others. With our predicted upturn in business I will be able to employ more local people and I have already started an apprentice on a 5 year apprenticeship degree at UoN. If we were still in the EU some of those opportunities would still have been there but not all of them.

One final thing, it is not really fair to ignore the impact the pandemic has had on every country, not just the UK. I am also suffering at the moment as well because of the lack of electronic components coming out of China due to the initial lockdowns over there. Manufacturers of things like electric motors, drives and PLC's who are predominantly based in mainland Europe are struggling to meet demand because of this and there is a huge knock on affect. I ordered a load of stuff for a machine build 3 months ago and was told I would receive the items by today the 12th August, I got notice from the manufacturers yesterday that this will now extend into October. The main reason being the items I ordered have actually gone elsewhere in Europe which has been prioritised over the UK.

This is a negative of Brexit for UK businesses like mine, not because of the reduced availability, that remains firmly with the upheaval caused by the pandemic, but the bloody mindedness of those EU regulators doing their best to make life hard for the UK. It won't last though, UK industries are already seeing an upturn and I fully believe as a country we will see the benefits in the long term. In my opinion looking for short term benefits in the back end of a global pandemic probably isn't fair.

Can I just add as well that I have very little faith in any of our current political parties. it will be the hard graft and dedication of sme business owners and the working man/woman that will bring about positive change for this country and not Westminster policies.

[Magpies1959]

What a fantastic post Mr ncfcog, very refreshing to get a balanced view. I think the referendum result said everything, with it being so close. I think if the vote had been say 70/30 for either side the benefits or negatives would have been more apparent. With covid thrown into the mix, I think it is too early to see the results of Brexit yet.
Everyone had their own reasons for voting the way they did, and it would be nice if we could all just move on and enjoy life.
Although I voted for Brexit, I think we should have stayed as we were, if the result wasn't at least 60/40 in favour of exiting, as I think this would have stopped all the back biting.
Just to finish, ncfcog, do you have a clock that has more hours in the day than the usual twenty four 😎

[ncfcog]

Just to finish, ncfcog, do you have a clock that has more hours in the day than the usual twenty four 

It often feels that way!

[PedroTheFisherman66]

You're right Pedro, it was a gamble, but of sorts. Should Boris have waited two or three years while research and testing was completed before allowing it's use?

personally I thought a tighter lock down to buy more time was a better option.
Only time will tell how good the gamble was and if it was a risk worth taking.

[frenchmagpie]

Although I voted for Brexit, I think we should have stayed as we were, if the result wasn't at least 60/40 in favour of exiting, as I think this would have stopped all the back biting.

That is exactly my view. I understand there will be some fringe benefits for some but overall the disadvantes and disruption outweigh them. If a large majority supported that there would be no argument but such a small majority on a small vote with subsequent voting law breaches made it ripe for division. As you say it's done now and has to be lived with.

[upthemaggies]

Regards vaccines, this from two days ago.......

Channel 4 News

"Herd immunity is not a possibility" because the Delta variant "still infects vaccinated individuals".
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, says there is nothing "the UK can do to stop the emergence of new variants".

https://twitter.com/Channel4News/sta...86490002997248