Anyone changed their mind re Brexit since Covid 19?

[LOVELYDOVEY05]

I wondered if this issue has influenced you at all? I think I am changing my mind

At what stage flashbac did I ever say anyone was bullying anyone? I said I thought the reaction was poor. As usual the big two took the opportunity to put forward a more federalist idea with a EU bond issue and the 'fugal four' rejected this as they would. I just think it's poor to use Covid to try and change the EU finance model.

I still cant get my head around leaving a trading block when we are entirely dependent on trade.

I am not sure that those trawler owners who willingly sold their boats and quotas will be in any rush to re-invest.

No, I’d still love to Remain.

I’m still in touch with a friend who voted Leave. I don’t think she’s changed her mind, but she’s horrified that the government are sticking to their original timetable. She wanted an extension.

I’ve lost touch with my former boss who voted Leave. His company has since folded after 33 years of trading, and yes, Brexit uncertainty undoubtedly had something to do with it.

I would be interested to know what he thinks about Brexit now, but I doubt he’s changed his mind either. He’ll be pissed off if he isn’t allowed to retire to his holiday villa in Spain, but I suspect he’ll have had to sell it, anyway.

@MillieEpple

I still cant get my head around leaving a trading block when we are entirely dependent on trade.

Absolutely this - the most simple and succinct argument for remain, which leave only have lies to combat

Nope. In fact, Covid has cemented my thinking. Brexit is an even more stupid idea four years on, now its no longer fantasy and we're living through a pandemic.

And it won't be that the impact of brexit will be less because of Covid, it will be worse.

The straightforward issue for me is what are we UK (all four nations) replacing the pre Brexit EU membership package with exactly?

Being the third most dominant economy within the former EU 28 was not massively ideal but now that we are giving this up for a WTO hard Brexit deal - is this a more ideal option?

Trade deals take years if not decades to conclude so naturally I doubt there will be any just in time oven ready trading relationships any time soon. Liechtenstein (apparently for world class dentistry and dentures) don't count in my book. Respect to this most prosperous of micro nations but it's not quite the appropriate big ticket aspirational deals the UK should be aiming for. I doubt the average public demographic would welcome a massive increase in costs of living (and possible supply chain issues) because of dependence on imported foods, medicines, manufactured products, raw materials and energy.

Ideally we should aim to pick and choose from the world's best (as if playing a virtual fantasy league trading nations game) but do the likes of largest economies like USA, China and Japan treat us as equals? Or can we cut deals with specific best in class (for specific sectors) nations like Sourh Korea, Switzerland and Israel etc. We could possibly call around the Anglophone sphere and have a greater trading relationship with advanced first world Canada, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand etc but which other nations will cut us a good deal that is mutually beneficial? Luckily we do have a few cards to play as leaders in some sectors but on balance it's not a foregone conclusion.

do the likes of largest economies like USA, China and Japan treat us as equals?

"The UK has secured a free trade agreement with Japan, which is the UK’s first major trade deal as an independent trading nation and will increase trade with Japan by an estimated £15.2 billion."

"The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was agreed in principle by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on a video call this morning (Friday 11 September)."

"The deal is tailored to the UK economy and secures additional benefits beyond the EU-Japan trade deal, giving UK companies exporting to Japan a competitive advantage in a number of areas. It will help to create jobs and drive economic growth throughout the whole of the UK."

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-japan-agree-historic-free-trade-agreement

"Improved market access for UK financial services–including greater transparency and streamlined application processes for UK firms seeking licences to operate in Japan.The deal creates an annual dialogue between Her Majesty’s Treasury, UK financial regulators, and the Japanese FSA that will explore ways to further reduce regulatory friction - something that would be impossible were the UK still in the EU."
"Financial services are our biggest export to Japan, accounting for 28% of all UK exports."

Here’s an article which isn’t the gov puff piece.

Your link saved the best till last - final paragraph;

"Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, the main business lobby, said in a statement that the deal will be "welcomed by businesses across the country." "It's a huge opportunity to secure new Japanese investment across a wider range of sectors and UK regions," she added."

We already had a trade deal with Japan, so it is good news that we are back to square one

Great news that we have the right to export small amounts of Stilton to British expats in Tokyo! Hope they are feeling peckish next year!

@Mistigri

We already had a trade deal with Japan, so it is good news that we are back to square one

Great news that we have the right to export small amounts of Stilton to British expats in Tokyo! Hope they are feeling peckish next year!

I recognise this as humorous and slightly funny too. As surely we can also export other home made big cheeses too as there is more than Stilton on offer!

On a serious note I trust this trade deal is somewhat more substantial. I am a big fan of Japan, their civility, culture and above all many of their fine products. We need to offer them a bit more than cheese!

On a serious note, UK trade with Japan isn't just cheese but it also isn't especially large (Uk exports to Japan are only about £7bn).

Fortunately, Covid-19 patients in ICU don’t need cheese, so presumably Japan will give us all their good critical care medicines in return.

Oh.

Is everything to be quantified in GDP%? One of the best EU 'ideas' I came across was the Atlantic Arc - it gave a communal perspective that those that lived within the Arc had more in Common than those caused by belonging to a specific Nation State.

To me it meant that a Fisher/Farmer in SW England had more in Common with a Fisher/Farmer in SW Portugal than either would have with a Call Centre Worker in Newcastle or Lisbon.

Somewhere along the way, the recognition of these socio-economic non-Nationalistic similarities became minimized as the EU Project grew.

And so I voted for the UK to leave the EU and still would.

@WiseUpJanetWeiss

Fortunately, Covid-19 patients in ICU don’t need cheese, so presumably Japan will give us all their good critical care medicines in return.

Oh.

It would actually be good if we imported Japanese medicine. Starting with the flu drug that they've used with some success against Covid.

I'd love to import their good hygiene practices too.

No, I'd still vote to leave

It would actually be good if we imported Japanese medicine. Starting with the flu drug that they've used with some success against Covid.

Japanese medicines are fine, apart from them not being labelled in English.

Voted remain and would do so again but appreciate that the vote went the other way. Not in my worst nightmares however did I anticipate the Tories could be this unbelievably arrogant and cavalier and that this far down the line so many falsehoods are still being pedalled and believed. I suppose we can only really blame our education system for failing to give pupils the ability to research and ascertain fact from fiction....

Someone wrote earlier that they spoke to someone who said the shortages in the NHS created by EU people leaving would be filled by retired NHS staff returning to work.

Three words: no, we won't

Saying that you didn't realise that the Tories wouid be arrogant and cavalier is like saying that you didn't realise that a lion was always going to want to eat you....

Brexiters don't seem to have an answer for the Irish border issue. Quelle surprise.