Westministenders: The Beginning of Negotiations

[RedToothBrush]

Transition has a few hours left.

Then negotiations start and trade stops.

Far from being over, there are huge numbers of issues that lay unresolved.

And businesses both now in the UK and EU will cease to trade with each other just because the red tape is such a pain.

So whilst people will celebrate and think things are 'done' that just shows how much people are paying attention.

It will be interesting to see people gradually realising what has been lost...

Just checked - Thoroughbred breeding in the UK is worth over £400 million and supports 19,000 jobs. That’s a lot of livelihoods.

"Anyway seems to be a very Remainer 1st world problem to be angry about more expensive tack as a bi-product of Brexit. The irony of the tears over this is probably lost."

Those horse-breeders spend money and employ little people like you and me. They are very profitable.
If their livelihood goes, or it becomes more expensive to run their business, they will start cutting back on their spending. They may even have to let their little people like you and me go.
That's how the economy works.

Oh, and as I think you've already been told, there's no such thing as a Remainer: we've left the EU.

There's a lot of serious money in the horse world. I'd be interested to see how the industry compares with fishing.

Economic value of the UK equestrian sector stands at £4.7 billion of consumer spending across goods and services annually.

£429 million contribution per year to UK economy from Thoroughbred breeding.

£3.45 billion expenditure per year in racing, with tax revenues of £300 million.

26,000 horse movements between UK, Ireland and France for races.

I strongly suspect that its just as much a Leaver 1st world problem. As with farmers and fishermen voting for Brexit, and then wondering why a liar and cheat like Johnson sold them out.

Do we know how much that is in terms of GDP, so that we can compare it with fishing?

Most of my horse friends voted Leave. I would mind less if they hadn't continued shouting about what a good idea it was right up till now.

@Whenwillow

Most of my horse friends voted Leave. I would mind less if they hadn't continued shouting about what a good idea it was right up till now.

So what are they saying now?

Leisure fishing contributes £1.4 billion to the UK economy, with commercial fishing contributing a similar amount.

The Brexit trade issue has always come down to profit margins.

If a Spanish lettuce grower makes 90p per kg selling to the UK after Brexit
but 91p selling to Bulgaria
they will sell to Bulgaria

If the big horse racing stables spend £1001 per month keeping a horse in the UK after Brexit
but £1000 in France
they will move the horses to France
and race them in EU meets
and hire EU staff
and pay their feed and utility bills in the EU
and with less good horses coming to meets like Aintree and Cheltenham and Newmarket
a lot of small businesses (catering, taxi, clothing hire and sale, B&B), already trashed by a year of COVID will topple over

but hey
that was just Project Fear when I started saying it

They are not joining the dots.

Horse racing is the second biggest spectator sport in the UK (after football).

@Whenwillow

They are not joining the dots.

It's the mean French who have always hated the plucky british?

Absolutely

EU customers buying from British businesses are also facing the customs charges, not great for British businesses as will EU customers order from within EU instead?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/07/customers-europe-hit-by-post-brexit-charges-buying-from-uk

If EU companies decide to stop supplying to UK customers, they lose the market of a single country. If UK companies stop supplying the EU, it is more of a loss for us as we are losing access to 27 countries:

Happywinter
And where those UK companies are component suppliers
they are eminently replaceable

@HappyWinter

EU customers buying from British businesses are also facing the customs charges, not great for British businesses as will EU customers order from within EU instead?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/07/customers-europe-hit-by-post-brexit-charges-buying-from-uk

If EU companies decide to stop supplying to UK customers, they lose the market of a single country. If UK companies stop supplying the EU, it is more of a loss for us as we are losing access to 27 countries:

I am actively choosing EU companies to buy from. I ordered some stuff I usually get from a UK company this morning. I went with an EU supplier instead. Marginally dearer than the UK cost pre-brexit but much cheaper than current UK cost.

Pretty much everyone I know who buys online is doing the same. There has also been loads of stuff on Irish media advising consumers of the risks of buying outside the EU in terms of consumer protection.

@HappyWinter

EU customers buying from British businesses are also facing the customs charges, not great for British businesses as will EU customers order from within EU instead?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/07/customers-europe-hit-by-post-brexit-charges-buying-from-uk

If EU companies decide to stop supplying to UK customers, they lose the market of a single country. If UK companies stop supplying the EU, it is more of a loss for us as we are losing access to 27 countries:

Just had a quick look at the article. Their reporters could do with a geography lesson to understand the difference between EU, Europe and what a continent is.

LQ It will be bad for those companies.

OchonAgusOchonO I would do the same, the customs charges are high.

Just had a quick look at the article. Their reporters could do with a geography lesson to understand the difference between EU, Europe and what a continent is.

How many of the current cabinet have started as journalists ?

Sorry: "journalists"

EU customers buying from British businesses are also facing the customs charges

The cycle clothing company mentioned in the Guardian link appears to be Stolen Goat in Hampshire; stolengoat.com/

They are certainly removing UK VAT at the checkout for goods sent to the EU - e.g. Jacket costing £149 for UK customers (including £24.83 VAT) costs £124.17 for customers in Germany.

There is a note;
Please note that we do not include any local taxes, VAT or import duties in our delivery costs for countries where we do not charge VAT at point of sale.

So much shiny new Red Tape

So much fresh concrete in Kent

But

Blue Passports

(like the Trump Supporters have)