Mr CarterDoubtless there will be administrative inconveniences from our Brexit deal, even though the examples you post look pretty inconsequential to me (Duty-free limits ?).But here is a surprising article from Larry Elliott the economics editor of - yes, the leftist GUARDIAN !https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/31/the-left-brexit-economic-ukHe points out the disadvantages of EU membership -'If there are problems with the UK economy, it is equally obvious there are big problems with the EU as well: slow growth, high levels of unemployment, a rapidly ageing population. The single currency – which Britain fortunately never joined – has failed to deliver the promised benefits. Instead of convergence between member states there has been divergence; instead of closing the gap in living standards with the US, the eurozone nations have fallen further behind. In their heads, those predicting Armageddon for the UK imagine the EU to still be Germany’s miracle economy – the Wirtschaftswunder – of the 1960s. The reality is somewhat different. It is Italy, where living standards are no higher than they were when the single currency was introduced two decades ago. It is Greece, forced to accept ideologically motivated austerity in return for financial support. The four freedoms of the single market – no barriers to the movement of goods, services, people and capital – are actually the four pillars of neoliberalism'.He also points out benefits we might gain in being free to run our economy as we decide - 'Leaving the EU means UK governments no longer have anywhere to hide. They have economic levers they can pull – procurement, tax, ownership, regulation, investment in infrastructure, subsidies for new industries, trade policy – and they will come under pressure to use them'.Let's hope that for the next four years we have a Government as adept at delivering a brave new economic world as it was in delivering us Brexit.Now we need actions not just slogans.
John Hawkes ● 1943d