AIBU to think that the BBC and other news outlets are reporting that the lack of lorry drivers and care workers is caused by Covid alone and that they are deliberately ignoring Brexit?

[Aurorashields99]

And if you agree, why do you think this is the case? Surely Brexit is as much to blame for these issues so why are they not reporting this fairly?

I must have watched half a dozen news stories over the past few days in which reporters only mention Covid as being the cause of empty shelves in the supermarket and the shortage of care workers. If Brexit is referred to at all, it is only mentioned fleetingly.

Of course Covid has had a heavy impact on these sectors too but it's not the only factor is it? So why is Brexit being ignored?

I am not a journalist or a troll. I have been a member of Mumsnet since 2003.

And yes I know there is a Brexit topic elsewhere but (a) I am interested in people's votes and (b) not being able to discuss this in AIBU and confining this thread to the Brexit topic is the perfect example of the issue I am complaining about here.

And it is allowing Boris Johnson and Michael Gove to cover their tracks and not to have to face the consequences of their actions. Covid is providing the perfect cover for them both.

Why aren't reporters doing their job and reporting the facts fairly? Why is Brexit being swept under the rug? Is it because Johnson and Gove were former journalists themselves and know how to spin events in their favour?

Or is Brexit a dirty word now even though we are all living with consequences?

If you define food shortages as not having enough to eat, then no we do not have food shortages.
If you define food shortages as being able to buy commonplace products, then yes we have food shortages.
So I can't buy free-range chicken, the only chicken in stock for the last month has been very cheap chicken. I bought some once and it was slimy, horrible. Decent chicken is a basic food staple in Britain.
For a bit, I couldn't get any fresh tomatoes, although that has now been resolved. Again a basic product.
I still can't get tonic water.
The varieties of yoghurt available are more limited.
None of this means we are going to starve, but these are basic foodstuffs. I am not talking about some exotic food that most people would never have eaten.

Intercity225 well said

I have heard Brexit discussed as a factor by news broadcasters. How much of a factor seems to be up for discussion, but that's not a surprise, there are lots of other things that are happening that probably also have had an effect.

Worker shortages seem to be a problem all over the place, what kinds of workers varies but the shortages are everywhere.

The lack of HGV drivers is more complicated than just Brexit.
First, there was certainly a case of EU drivers undercutting British drivers, which has apparently been happening for a long time. Here a lack of planning for this event may be a cause.
The changes to the IR35 has caused many HGV drivers to quit.
There is a backlog of HGV licenses at the DVLA, caused (it is said), by working from home during the Lockdown. And apparently still working from home. Some drivers state they have been waiting since July.
The Lockdown itself. Many drivers preferred to go home, instead of staying in the UK.

It's not the only cause, but it is a cause and it's one that no other country has to contend with. So in this case, Brexit is making the problem worse in Britain than anywhere else. Other countries have HGV driver shortages, but they don't also have to contend with the complications that Brexit heaps on top, complications that make the HGV crisis worse here.

It's nothing to do with Brexit. It's mainly the DVLA backlog. There are thousands of lorry drivers in the UK who can't work because their certification is tied up at the DVLA.

Remainiacs like to blame Brexit for everything, but would be better off picking their battles rather than having a blanket blame on Brexit for everything.

You're bonkers if you thinking leaving the EU and its customs union and single market and FoM has no effect on supplies of essentials and labour in the UK.

If if doesn't why on earth is the shortage of HGV drivers being acutely felt only now? Why not last year when Covid was also horrific? What could have happened in between last year and this?

It's not a 'blanket blame' on Brexit. It is a specific area of supplies that have been affected because of Brexit.

There's a whole lot more sh*t to hit yet................and yes, because of Brexit.

Enjoy it, leavers. It's what you voted for.