Five years

It is five years since full economic Brexit happened.

Two uneventful weeks followed, and then COVID hit.

Untangling the effects of both from the total losses of GDP and national income down to personal incomes is difficult.

We can compare it to similar European economies, and see that the effects of COVID have meant most economies have recovered, the UK's has not.

Any small piece of good news of upward climb in data has been praised as an effect of Brexit, movements the other way is always down to something else.

Yesterday, the Torygraph ran two huge puff pieces, one from Nigel and other from Frost each shouting about how much a triumph Brexit has been, or how the true potential of Brexit can be unleashed.

If Brexit had been the success that was promised, such puff pieces would not be needed.

This week the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves promised sweeping away huge swathes of environmental protection to promote growth, when all that is needed is closer alignment to EU standards and easier access to the SM and CU.

Such things are unsayable by either of the two main UK political parties, but until the reality of Brexit is discussed and admitted to, we as a country cannot move on.

Yesterday, I saw a large billboard on Dover Priory stating how the Government could help businesses trade with the EU. Before Brexit such help wasn't needed, and since then, most small and medium businesses have given up on trading with the EU because the red tape that was promised to have been swept away has instead increased.

I will continue to comment on Brexit when there are substansive changes in policy.