To think covid has hidden the effect of Brexit so far

[Laughingstock91]

I read an article at the weekend about the Uk dairy industry - link here- and about what a horrific disaster Brexit has been so far:
www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/boris-johnson-brexit-crisis-dairy-industry-7962104

This is mirrored in the fishing industry, wine industry among others- but there will be plenty more.

We haven’t seen the impact on travel yet as we aren’t able to go but predictions are queues at airports for UK travellers no longer able to use the Eu channels. I also just saw that there is going to be a massive labour shortage in the fruit & veg industry due to Brexit limitations and the hostile environment.

Aibu to think we haven’t really seen the shitshow impact of Brexit yet on our way of life at all- and that it’s going to be a shock when people realise how things really have changed.

Agree. Read a lot on twitter yesterday from business owners describing how difficult it is to conduct business due to the endless bureaucracy. Huge issues with the supply chain and rules changing willy nilly. Once the pandemic has died down the reality will kick in. Do I think people will concede it wasn't worth it ? Sadly no....

But maybe covid will hide this forever?

YANBU.

My DP tells me that there was an article in the Telegraph (!) a few days ago reporting - with outrage - that British expats living in Europe are now going to have fewer rights post-Brexit!

It's like they literally don't realise what they voted for. I mean, who wants to be able to live, travel and work visa-free in 27 countries?!

As things open up, the realities are going to become increasingly apparent.

I’m a British expat living in France for work reasons. Yes, I have fewer rights and it has affected my life, but no, I didn’t vote for Brexit, ( I wouldn’t have anyway,) as I didn’t have the right to vote!

It hasn't hidden the loathing the French have for the British. Not has it hidden the assistance the richer countries in the bloc give to the poorer in times of need. Not has it hidden how nicely the EU play at the negotiating table or how fairly they play or how little they regard us or how angry they get when we do something well. Nor how slow moving they are when they need to rise to a challenge. It hasn't hidden how petty they can be, how intent they are to punish instead of working towards something beneficial for both parties.

I'll leave that now, can't be bothered with this conversation further - it's why I don't read the dedicated brexit board which has the same thing over and over and over and over...

I'm in the same situation as @Pandamumium albeit in Italy. I got a call from the Immigration Office last week saying my papers weren't in order! Eek. (A genuine oversight as there have been so many bureaucratic hurdles since Brexit that something obviously slipped by). A lot of British businesses are experiencing problems (and many websites will no longer ship to the EU) but people who voted Leave are just not interested in the damage they have caused.

NB my children are about 3/4 French, bilingual and have grown up here in the UK.

I'm sorry to hear that @Pandamumium. I didn't mean to imply that expats voted for Brexit, but that the Telegraph as a newspaper supported Brexit and now seem shocked that Operation Fear reality has hit.

people who voted Leave are just not interested in the damage they have caused.
Damnloginpopup proving the point nicely - no solutions suggested just blaming the EU for punishing the UK.

I disagree with your comment 'so far'. The pandemic will hide the impact of Brexit for ever, except perhaps for Northern Ireland. It won't be a shock in any case, and those who voted for the act of economic self-harm will never admit to others that they either made a mistake, or would not do so if they knew what they know now.

Prior to Brexit we imported far more milk and milk products from the EU than we exported. Should post Brexit bureaucracy become to unwieldy to navigate in a profitable way then there is a domestic market to sell to. The bureaucracy cuts both ways so exports from the EU to the UK will also suffer. The crisis is more likely to be for consumers than dairy farmers as UK demand exceeds domestic supply. I know many dairy farmers and they are not reporting any changes to their business as a result of Brexit.

I know people are disappointed with the decision to leave the EU but you undermine your credibility if you want to evidence why it was a bad idea but you fail to fact check an article from a news source called The New European.

My lovely friend (UK) sent me (EU) a pamphlet of poems for my birthday yesterday instead of a card, to the value of about £7.00. (I have changed the details in case she is on here but as far as I know she isn't. )

The weight of the parcel was 0.245 kg. I was charged Euros £35.98 tax and customs charges at the post office when I went to collect it (obviously haven't told my friend this).

If you imagine this tiny transaction multiplied X 1.3 million (the number of Brits living in EU) that is significant cost and inconvenience.

And for what purpose? How does this help the UK?

And that doesn't even touch on EU companies trying to import UK goods.

Op I think you are right. The effect of this has barely started to be acknowledged.

@Wetnoseandfurryears

Well, your friend obviously didn't fill in the correct form as no tax or duty would be payable on a gift with that value.

Yes, agree.

Tbh though I think those who voted for it will not worry about the economic harm, it wasn't something they were concerned about prior to the vote.

Covid has been a blessing to the tories. A way to hide the consequences of brexit and to enrich their friends and contacts with contracts for PPE when experienced manufacturers and providers are not invited to tender, or have their offers ignored.

I'd like to invite every brexit sceptic to have a look at and consider signing at rejoinregister.org.

This is the pinned post on their facebook page:

"Welcome to the Register Organisation, founded by and currently run by UKPEN Ltd. UKPEN is a few volunteer activists like you who have been spotting gaps to fill since 2016. Read all about it on ukpen.eu/about. You can see the 150 local groups that have linked to UKPEN here: ukpen.eu/ukpen-linked/. We're in touch with these and most of the others via a regular newsletter just so everyone knows what everyone else is doing! We helped set up and regularly take part in the Grassroots for Europe Round Table where many major organisations meet and share.

The Register is our version of the Pledge. The People's Pledge helped the Referendum Party get the referendum that took us out of the EU. Vote for Europe and Pledge for Europe and others have taken the idea on. Our idea is simply for as many as possible of those tens of millions of people who feel outraged by Brexit - how it was done and what it represents - to sign up in one place so we can show the politicians that they have to change their tune or suffer at the ballot box.
On top of that the long term project is for local groups to be put in touch with you when you sign up so we get a virtuous circle of recruitment which the local groups can continue in their own streets. We also want all rejoin organisations to get involved and ultimately unify our movement in a way which benefits big national players as well as the latest single person initiative. The Register is how we get back in - together. Spread the word!"

[quote VeniVidiWeeWee]@Wetnoseandfurryears

Well, your friend obviously didn't fill in the correct form as no tax or duty would be payable on a gift with that value.[/quote]
That's quite possible but even when the charges are done accurately and at greater value, they seem completely arbitrary. I've had packages worth £60 from M&S that have arrived without charges. And then some trousers from a UK outlet for the same amount where I was charged nearly Euros 30. I've had birthday cards arrived with customs forms attached and some with nothing, both from mainland UK. Ditto some books and underwear and swimsuits. Needless to say we are not ordering anything from the UK anymore.

Covid has been a blessing to the tories. A way to hide the consequences of brexit

I was coming on to say this. “Yah covid” will be the excuse for the next decade.

@Wetnoseandfurryears

My lovely friend (UK) sent me (EU) a pamphlet of poems for my birthday yesterday instead of a card, to the value of about £7.00. (I have changed the details in case she is on here but as far as I know she isn't. )

The weight of the parcel was 0.245 kg. I was charged Euros £35.98 tax and customs charges at the post office when I went to collect it (obviously haven't told my friend this).

If you imagine this tiny transaction multiplied X 1.3 million (the number of Brits living in EU) that is significant cost and inconvenience.

And for what purpose? How does this help the UK?

And that doesn't even touch on EU companies trying to import UK goods.

Op I think you are right. The effect of this has barely started to be acknowledged.

How odd. DD just had a birthday, Dnephew just had a birthday, DSis just sent me a money transfer. Not one charge, on anything!

I am in Spain.

The above is between UK and Spain.

@EssentialHummus

Covid has been a blessing to the tories. A way to hide the consequences of brexit

I was coming on to say this. “Yah covid” will be the excuse for the next decade.

I was going to say the same. They’ll absolve themselves of all responsibility for literally anything for years.

How odd. DD just had a birthday, Dnephew just had a birthday, DSis just sent me a money transfer. Not one charge, on anything!

I am in Spain.

Money transfers are totally different to sending a physical parcel but the cost of making a bank transfer has gone up since Brexit, as money transfers are no longer governed by EU rules on money transfers and banks are able to charge more than admin costs alone.

Anyone making payments from the UK to the EU or vice versa will notice the charges are higher. You may not have noticed BillieSpain because you are the recipient. The person initiating the transfer, is usually given an option, either to shoulder all of the additional costs themselves or share the costs with the recipient.

they seem completely arbitrary
Agreed. I was charged more than what I paid for one package, despite being assured that there was nothing extra to pay. I used to buy treats from British Online Cornershop but they have had to double their shipping costs to cover duty and a pot of products cannot be shipped, so that's out. I'm not buying from the UK anymore and neither is anybody I know.

@Wetnoseandfurryears

How odd. DD just had a birthday, Dnephew just had a birthday, DSis just sent me a money transfer. Not one charge, on anything!

I am in Spain.

Money transfers are totally different to sending a physical parcel but the cost of making a bank transfer has gone up since Brexit, as money transfers are no longer governed by EU rules on money transfers and banks are able to charge more than admin costs alone.

Anyone making payments from the UK to the EU or vice versa will notice the charges are higher. You may not have noticed BillieSpain because you are the recipient. The person initiating the transfer, is usually given an option, either to shoulder all of the additional costs themselves or share the costs with the recipient.

No, I said two birthday parcels have been sent, to Dnephew in the UK and to DD here in Spain from the UK, plus I was sent a money transfer (for me)

No difference to the last 15 years, no problems. My experience in the last month.

The money transfer was from my Dsis to me and she didn't pay and I actually got more due to the exchange rate!

@Sometimesonly

they seem completely arbitrary Agreed. I was charged more than what I paid for one package, despite being assured that there was nothing extra to pay. I used to buy treats from British Online Cornershop but they have had to double their shipping costs to cover duty and a pot of products cannot be shipped, so that's out. I'm not buying from the UK anymore and neither is anybody I know.

No, I absolutely would no longer order from the British Cornershop, even before Brexit they only ever caused problems. I got a package of melted Easter Eggs a month late once. (Ordered a month early) They did refund me though, but I don't have confidence in them.

No way I would consider now!

Total agreement.

Boris & co must be delighted that Covid came along as it's hidden the balls up that is Brexit.