Forum Topic

Finally The Telegraph admits it.

Project Fear was right all along
Downbeat predictions by the Treasury and others on the economic consequences of leaving the EU, contemptuously dismissed at the time by Brexit campaigners as "Project Fear", have been on a long fuse, but they have turned out to be overwhelmingly correct, and if anything have underestimated both the calamitous loss of international standing and the scale of the damage that six years of policy confusion and ineptitude has imposed on the country.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/10/15/project-fear-right-along/

Matt Palmer ● 1205d19 Comments

Did he? I seem to recall he had to be determined to get may to release her plans and wasn't given much opportunity to influence it (see Hansard link)? After all, he supported a second referendum to confirm the Brexit vote once the reality was becoming available and the disinformation about Brexit exposed. (Is that someone ot wanting a soft Brexit?) But that could be my memory, do you have references?https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-12-07/debates/CA09D9B2-9634-41C8-8979-8B9CD82DBB8F/TheGovernmentSPlanForBrexitI know he's since ruled out renegotiating a softer Brexit and rejoining the single market or EU, but a large number of people in the Labour party disagree with Sir Keir regarding this matter. From a practical point of view it's unlikely EU membership would be viable in the near future anyway but I believe some Conservatives (off the record) think closer association with the single market would solve problems caused by Brexit such as the NI Protocol, border delays, loss of business by SMEs, musicians touring in Europe, etc.

Michael Ixer ● 1202d

May I suggest Brexit as well?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1202d

Thanks Ivonne. It’s a sobering set of personal and objective accounts. COVID and Putin have been responsible for the fog that hides the reality of the consequence of all the lies and false promises.

Freddie Francis ● 1202d

Let's not forget Starmer sinking any soft Brexit initiative as Shadow Brexit Secretary.

Ed Robinson ● 1202d

Ed. I agree a sensible compromise could, perhaps should, have been reached given the marginal win. If Mrs May hadn't charged into trying to illegally implement article 70 and consulted remainers in formulating her definition of Brexit that might have been possible. Given Corbyn's lukewarm support of Brexit he'd probably had useful input. Instead the ERG solution for a hard Brexit was adopted contrary to may promises made earlier about a soft Brexit. Now we have JRM proposing ludicrous ideas such as reverting from metric to Imperial units in the name of deregulation. Obviously a delusional distraction tactic?

Michael Ixer ● 1203d

Thank you Freddie for the link.Reluctantly I watched a youtube video as I do not normally watch them.  It is quite a lesson and a very bitter pill to swallow.  I watched part of the video as I must go out but it is heart breaking to hear all the small businesses that have had to close down due to Brexit.  I shall continue watching it later.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1203d

And a complete (very balanced) trashing from the FT. I predict the the smugxeteers will not watch it.  Let’s see the predictable ‘yeah buts’ in the following posts 🤣 https://youtu.be/wO2lWmgEK1Y

Freddie Francis ● 1203d

I voted remain but I equally blame both groups and especially MP's.A sensible compromise could have been reached. Instead fractional and party politics were put ahead of the country's  interests.The strange thing is when it comes to wars and foreign policy there is no difference between them.

Ed Robinson ● 1203d

The Brexit supporters on here will never admit they were wrong and we are all paying for their poor judgement and will do so for a long time.

Lucille Grant ● 1203d

I would not worry too much about the German economy out performing the UK's. US foreign policy will see the German economy cut down before Christmas.

Ed Robinson ● 1203d

Staggering to read the interview with Mark Carney in the FT (it was published on October 14th but is behind the their paywall), in which he comments that "in 2016 the British economy was 90 per cent the size of Germany’s. Now it is less than 70 per cent. And that calculation was made before [the disaster of September 23]."Would any of the Brexiteers here care to explain how this represents a triumph for their plan?

Richard Carter ● 1203d

The UK had some insect farms before Brexit.  It was an interesting and growing business area and seemed a useful way to add to the protein available without the huge and damaging costs that other proteins have on the climate.  Insects are deliberately eaten in plenty of other countries.  They can be made in a protein rich flour so if you are squeamish at the idea of eating creepy crawlies you needn't be.Six Legs Farm who used to feature at Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's events at River Farm with their insect food offerings look as though they too may not have survived.https://sifted.eu/articles/edible-insects-brexit-startups/Needless to say the insect farms in the EU have now become even more successful without the UK competition.

Philippa Bond ● 1204d

Brexit- has given us a lot but not much of it positive ...(Couldn't resist posting this list - and it doesn't mention the Northern Ireland Protocol; I'm still waiting for someone to post the positive ones, unless it's JRM's plans to reintroduce rods, poles and perches, and possibly LSD, oops, I meant £sd; just imagining what he, the ERG and UKIP are on!)Personal difficulties caused by Brexit: https://theconversation.com/four-ways-brexit-and-the-loss-of-free-movement-have-made-life-harder-for-mixed-british-european-families-187316 Guide dog travel problems: https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/brexit-backer-left-in-the-cold-by-new-rules-that-make-it-impossible-for-him-to-enter-france-with-a-guide-dog-336371/ Brexit damages science research: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/18/brexit-research-grant-uk-science-jeopardy Business gone bust: https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/business-economics/brewery-dubbed-a-brexit-export-champion-calls-in-administrators-after-eu-customers-dry-up-336303/ Proof UKIP talks rubbish! (Ok can't say this is Brexit but it's amusing nonsense) https://www-businessinsider-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.businessinsider.com/ukip-douglas-carswell-twitter-tides-2016-9?amp Brexit adds to travel problems https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/brexit-partly-blame-eurostar-kent-remain-closed-1812718 I don't always agree with Lord Sugar but he's correct this time https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/lord-sugar-asks-how-we-could-reverse-brexit-and-does-this-thread-response-nail-it-333564/#utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=sfeu Obviously Brexit isn't good for many businesses https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/sep/04/it-was-a-brexit-export-champion-now-kent-brewery-has-one-eu-customer-left?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other British residents in Spain who can no longer drive as their licences are invalid https://inews.co.uk/news/world/britons-spain-protest-brexit-licence-rules-stranded-1863720o A solution for UK firms, move to the EU! https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/busines Is-economics/ads-encouraging-british-firms-to-relocate-spotted-at-eurostar-terminals-335311/ Even Tim Martin says Brexit is unfinished https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/get-rid-of-the-fing-tariffs-to-make-brexit-work-tim-martin-says-334180/#utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=sfeu And the music industry puts it bluntly with strong language - don't read if your sensitive to that - but then perhaps one shouldn't vote for an ex PM  who used that language about business and Brexit … https://www.nme.com/news/music/uk-bands-touring-europe-brexit-issue-visas-carnets-merch-delays-white-lies-3203300

Michael Ixer ● 1204d

"By the way did you see that the French are bussing the illegals to the coast to enable them to cross. Nice organisation is the EU."Meanwhile earlier (2021) on the BBC:-"In September 2018, the northern French city of Dunkirk underwent a quietly radical transformation: it made its public transport system free. Under the leadership of Mayor Patrice Vergriete, who has a doctorate in urban planning, the city became the largest in France to drop fares on local networks, giving its 200,000 metropolitan-area residents fare-free access to 18 bus routes."https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210519-how-france-is-testing-free-public-transportThat is not the same as your "the French are bussing the illegals to the coast to enable them to cross."https://www.dkbus.com/index.php

David Ainsworth ● 1204d

What has Brexit ever given us? Anything positive at all? Ever?

Mark Phillips ● 1204d

Italy is being run by a fascist & the French & Germans by surrender monkeys. Who has the loss of international standing, us or them? The economic stuff is impossible to quantify as covid has played havoc with everyone. By the way did you see that the French are bussing the illegals to the coast to enable them to cross. Nice organisation is the EU.

Paul Rolink ● 1205d

So disappointing to see that BMW intend taking the building of electric minis away from Cowley to China.

Philippa Bond ● 1205d

I agree Michael, but it is a massive recognition though. Thank you Matt for posting it.We shall see what the future brings....

Ivonne Holliday ● 1205d

Sad to be proved right as the damage from 2016 and 2019 will take years to be repaired :-(

Michael Ixer ● 1205d