Realities

Labour was trashed in the local and Hartlepool byelection(s). Johnson crowed that this was due to the success of Brexit, the vaccine roll-out and the defeat of the European Super League.

It still needs to be said, that all these were lies.

The last one the biggest, but with least effect on the country.

The vaccine roll out was prepared with the UK was under the tansition agreement, in effect a de-facto member, or one that had to abide by the rules of the EU.

Brexit has not been a success, especially when measured against the promises the Brexiteers that they themselves made during the referendum and up to the WA having been ratified.

The 151,000 deaths of people from COVID is not mentioned, as if they never lived in the first place, as they deaths and suffering and that of their familes is an inconvenience.

Pitched to the electorate was a battle for national sovereignty, one whch would bring nothing other than economic benefits. Even at the time, this was pointed out as wrong or lies. Now that the economic cost of this imagined sovereignty has become clear, apparently that "feeling" of sovereignty is "priceless", worth it no matter how hight the cost.

That the EU or other countries have their own ideas of their own sovereignty never entered their tiny minds. Take Norway. Norway is not in the EU and can negotiate its own deals in trade and other areas like fishing. The UK and Norway have been talking for months about fishing, and failed to reach an agreement. The UK has given up on talks for the rest of the year as the two countries are so far apart.

This is Norway using its sovereignty to decide what is good for it and its fishermen.

Then there is Jersey: fishing agreements for the various Channel Islands go back decades; one such agreement surrounding Sark and Alderny has been subjected to a continuation agreement, the one for Jersey has not.

Brexiteers and the media have painted this as a UK v France spat, but France has the support of the EU, and some of the Jersey fishermen who joined in the demonstrations.

The UK's choice to exercise its rights as a sovereign nation should always be measured against the consequences of exercising those rights. In the case of Norway, the effect is that UK fishermen for the next year cannot enter much of Norwegian waters. It might be proceless to Brexiteers but it is the very bread and butter of life for the fishermen who now find their way of life ruined.

As fishing was a key part of Brexit, this seems remarkable, but then anything and everything is to be burned in the name of Brexit and ending free movement.

Control will always badly affect trade, and lots of control will affect lots of trade, and the decision on whether to use that control should be measured against the cost and whether it really makes a dofference, like the UK setting up its own chemical handling regulations after deciding to leave REACH, meaning that UK companies who want to export will have to be certified against two standards, but there is no real benefit to this, it won't be any safer, all because it's an EU insitution, and such thigs are "incompatable with Brexit", which is a political choice.

THe same things said over and over again, and yet the costs of these choices passes below the media radar, only when something like the wine industry or oyster fisherment get their situation in the national news do most people know. And as these seem minor bumps, are largly ignored.

That this bumps are as a result of the hardest of Brexit that Johnson chose is hardly mentioned. Its punishment by the EU, rather than the UK punishing itself.

As soon as the UK reasises this, and has the discussion whether it is worth all the job losses, lost exports, limited choice in shops and lost GDP, the better. These are findamental issues, not bumps in the road. And will not go away, and show that Brexit will be endless negotiatations in dozens of areas until some kind of dynamic agreement is reached or the UK either rejoins the EU or becomes an associate member.

Or something.

Meanwhile there might be a recovery, but it won't be a quick or beneficial as one had we still have been in the EU.