Ed, that's an interesting point you've raise. One aspect of Brexit in the minds of right wingers - Rees Mogg, Redwood, Farage, etc - seemed to be that post Brexit they could weaken workers' rights, pay etc by disbanding EU legislation that protected them. However, they introduced the sop of settled status to retain EU workers to maintain the labour pool.However, some EU workers left after the referendum when they started experience xenophobia from the atmosphere it created but many went home during the pandemic and then didn't bother to return. Added to that, many UK citizens also dropped out of the work during the pandemic - some because of long covid, others taking early retirement if they became redundant, etc.I suppose the reduced workforce pushing up wages might be seen as a Brexit benefit? (Interesting no Brexiteers have stated that.) Although perhaps not one right wing Brexiteers had envisaged? And those elderly people who allegedly voted for it might not be so keen if the government drops the triple lock while prices still rise because of higher pay? However, one barrier to increasing the work pool isn't economic; that's ageism - it seems many people made redundant in their late 50s or older eventually take early retirement as employers just aren't interested in their experience ... Andy, automation, self service tills, etc were around pre Brexit but my perception is they're proliferating more since, whether they're supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, ...So two radical events coinciding - Brexit and Covid - were bound to force some changes; then a third - Russia's invasion of Ukraine - is forcing more because of increased energy costs, and who knows what impact war in the Middle East might have ... I suspect life will change significantly over the next few decades as there'll also be the reaction to cope with longer term climate changes.
Michael Ixer ● 575d