I found this interesting. It’s mainly about how Brexit has introduced extra red tape when dealing with Europe. The article says how the EU is the UK’s largest trading partner, with the value of trade being over double that of the next largest trading partner: the USA.
Here are some quotes:
The days of freedom of movement for people, goods, and services between the UK and its neighbours are long gone.
The British economy has lost out and British citizens and businesses suffer from greater bureaucratic botheration.
Nor has immigration into the UK gone down since leaving the EU. The numbers have actually gone up, with people from Commonwealth countries, including India, Pakistan and Nigeria, more than compensating for EU citizens who used to come and go.
Starmer seems to have done an alright job in getting closer to Europe, and European leaders seem more warm to him than our previous few leaders (to put it lightly).
I just wish he’d been a bit bolder and not ruled out things like rejoining the Customs Union during campaigning. I get why it was done, the press would’ve called him undemocratic and other such nonsense, but in case Kier hasn’t noticed, the press doesn’t like him anyway, so don’t pander to them!
I seriously hope Labour drop the “No rejoining the EU or CU” pledge for next election. It’s only doing us harm.
As for the patting Trump on the head and offering state visits thing… Meh. I don’t like seeing it either, but if gestures like that help avoid Trump having a hissy fit and economically destroying the UK, then I’m all for taking the pragmatic approach. If the choice is ever between the US and Europe, though, the choice is obvious 🇪🇺.
For me the problem with being scared of Trump “ruining our economy” is that he might just do it anyway. In fact, the more we play along with him, the more we become dependent on the US, and the more we prop up the order he’s trying to bring about.
The EU and the rest of the world are having success pushing back on the US (see: 90 day delay on tariffs) yet in the UK we act like we’re nothing but powerless mewling kittens who must act cute to survive.
But we are becoming more self reliant, and we are collaborating with non-US countries more.
Ah that’s a good one, do you know any more?
I think you’re right it would be “nonsense” if the press said that joining the customs union would be “undemocratic”. The referendum only asked whether the UK should leave the EU - people didn’t vote explicitly to leave the customs union or single market.