[Politics] Should the next Government start negotiating to join the Customs Union ?

[JBizzle]

I voted yes, but the EU offered us a free movement deal for 18-30yos but both the Sunak and Starmer rejected it immediately. Why would either dare to piss off the Brexity voters more?

The thing is, Brexit is a vote loser for Starmer right now. Personally I want him to be more pro-rejoin, but at the moment he needs centre-right moderates to deliver the majority he wants. For now, the status quo on Brexit isn't the main election issue.

My hope is, after a couple of years of trying to fix a wrecked economy and a bankrupt government purse, Labour decide to push the rejoin agenda again. That's my hope, at least.

I do have more faith in a Labour Government making Brexit less of a failure than this Tory one though on account of the fact that they didn't spend four years thumbing their nose at European institutions to play up to the Brexit crowd.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Quite well?

One of my family is struggling currently due to unavailability of a medicine.

Even the extremely left wing Sky news recognizes this as a Brexit Bonus:

Brexit has made UK medicine shortages worse, research suggests

The UK's departure from the EU did not cause the shortages, the Nuffield Trust says, but it has made it much more difficult for the UK to cope.

news.sky.com

One Brexit bonus (for him at least) is that a former colleague of mine has created an app to, partly, deal with this issue. When you are prescribed a medication you can log on and get details of the nearest chemist, which stocks it. Whilst it doesn’t deal with the shortage, you won’t have to go visit numerous chemists trying to find it.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I’d also like to add the issue with approving new meds, mentioned in the article above, was entirely predicted by myself and anyone else in the industry.

 

[A1X]

Careful what you wish for. The economies of France and Germany (ie the EU powerhouses of old) are screwed right now

Whereas ours….

 

[The Clamp]

It seems that both Labour and Conservatives have published manifestos that independent economic bodies have agreed need significant economic growth to cover financially, growth way beyond what is currently predicted.

Very simple question, should the next Government begin negotiations to join the Customs Union to help achieve economic growth required. if you really want to discuss further there's always The Brexit Thread

Of course they should. With great haste.

Only a fool would think otherwise.

 

[nicko31]

No brainer, the trade deals signed offer very little.

Time to get back to basics, trade properly with our neighbours like most countries do. Johnson's TCA was rushed and very poor, loads of red tape and non-tariff barrier

Until this happens don't expect any meaningful growth in the UK economy.

 

[nicko31]

Can I ask why?

Our exports to Europe are up since Brexit (because of the fall in the value of Sterling)

Look at our overall trade deficit since Brexit, its not a good look

 

[pb21]

Can I ask why?

Our exports to Europe are up since Brexit (because of the fall in the value of Sterling)

Could your exports be any higher?

Just thinking we need our economy to grow as much as possible as quick as possible, so anything that would result in you potentially increasing exports would be a good thing.

 

[Pavilionaire]

A small observation - I've just gone to Co-op to buy some apples. Their apple offering was:

South Africa, Brazil, New Zealand OR mini-apples from Kent.

This is f*cked up on 3 levels:

1. No normal sized British apples.
2. No apples at all from our EU neighbours
3. The carbon footprint of the normal-sized apples on offer is ridiculous.

I also went to a local store to get some mussels - you'd think these would be sourced from Scotland, France or Spain but they were actually farmed from Chile.

Therefore, when people consider the Customs Union on economic grounds they should also consider it on environmental grounds too.

It's disappointing that it is only the SNP who are telling voters about the consequences of Brexit like it is. Our economy is a good 4-5% smaller, we can't afford the things we used to and there is no prospect of that changing in the next 2-3 years. We are a nation in complete denial of the self-harm we have done to ourselves.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Look at our overall trade deficit since Brexit, its not a good look

Fully get that - and as I said I voted in the poll to rejoin - but as I say there were huge pros to exporters in June 2016 with the fall in Sterling - some people fail to recognize that.

Be interesting to see what would happen to exchange rates if we were to rejoin....

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Could your exports be any higher?

Just thinking we need our economy to grow as much as possible as quick as possible, so anything that would result in you potentially increasing exports would be a good thing.

Of course they could be higher - any business that says they can't improve sales is crazy.

As I've said before, I'd rather be in than out, but IMO the exchange rate(s) are more important as we've all got used to the additional work/paperwork.

 

[beorhthelm]

A small observation - I've just gone to Co-op to buy some apples. Their apple offering was:

South Africa, Brazil, New Zealand OR mini-apples from Kent.

This is f*cked up on 3 levels:

1. No normal sized British apples.
2. No apples at all from our EU neighbours
3. The carbon footprint of the normal-sized apples on offer is ridiculous.

an observation on the observation: which hemisphere has apples in season and which does not.
the environment point is well made, we've long imported various produce from South America and elsewhere. strawberries from Morocco and Egypt always raised an eyebrow.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Can I ask why?

Our exports to Europe are up since Brexit (because of the fall in the value of Sterling)

We make organic products for D2C, and in order to export them for sale and distribution in the EU we’d need to open an EU based business with a proper office (not virtual) that can be visited and inspected by an EU based organic certification company. Previously we could have just shipped them to an EU fulfilment centre and shipped them out to customers as the orders came in under our UK organic license.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Fully get that - and as I said I voted in the poll to rejoin - but as I say there were huge pros to exporters in June 2016 with the fall in Sterling - some people fail to recognize that.

Be interesting to see what would happen to exchange rates if we were to rejoin....

For exporters a devalued currency is a big plus, but unfortunately I doubt that offsets the downside of the drop in value for the rest of Britain, particularly as a net Importer. Obviously I think we need to join to get anywhere close to the economic growth that all parties are predicting and basing their manifestos on, but really wouldn't like to guess at the impact on exchange rates

Oh great another Brexit related thread.

I thought the title of the thread was fairly self explanatory but obviously not .

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Of course they could be higher - any business that says they can't improve sales is crazy.

As I've said before, I'd rather be in than out, but IMO the exchange rate(s) are more important as we've all got used to the additional work/paperwork.

What happens when the exchange rate changes? It has flat-lined under the Tories since the referendum but one would hope/expect a stronger pound under Starmer. Will we see businesses like yours struggle?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

What happens when the exchange rate changes? It has flat-lined under the Tories since the referendum but one would hope/expect a stronger pound under Starmer. Will we see businesses like yours struggle?

You're right - pretty constant rates for the past 6 years.

Constant is good

For exporters a lower £ against € and $ is obviously a big advantage.

Of course it could go the other way - forcing the price our overseas customer's pay upwards.

I agree that the £ will strengthen, but I can't see a huge rise.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Voted REMAIN but vote No now as I don’t know what the costs and economy chaos would be

 

[Baldseagull]

Fully get that - and as I said I voted in the poll to rejoin - but as I say there were huge pros to exporters in June 2016 with the fall in Sterling - some people fail to recognize that.

Be interesting to see what would happen to exchange rates if we were to rejoin....

In June 2016 and until we actually left I would imagine. In my brothers business, they no longer fulfill the smaller orders they used to, as the cost in time and money isn't worth it.

 

[Baldseagull]

Of course they could be higher - any business that says they can't improve sales is crazy.

As I've said before, I'd rather be in than out, but IMO the exchange rate(s) are more important as we've all got used to the additional work/paperwork.

Well, good for your business maybe, but bad for others, and everyone's costs of living.