NEWS · 07 April 2022
The rest of the world is beginning to recover economically from the pandemic... but not Brexit Britain.
That is the conclusion from trade figures analysed by the Sunday Times this week:
"The main cause of this malaise: an economically damaging Brexit done in such a way that little or no thought was given to the consequences. As far as trade is concerned, things are panning out in the manner once stupidly dismissed as 'Project Fear'."
Now we see the gathering clouds of inflation, in the form of the cost of living crisis, driven by continuing staff shortages and rising bills.
As parliament's Environment Select Committee has just said: "The evidence we have received leaves us in no doubt that labour shortages, caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic, have badly affected businesses across the food and farming sector."
Energy price rises are another big factor in the crisis. While it's true that rising energy costs can't be pinned on Brexit alone, you have to ask why it is that UK energy prices have increased by over 50% while French bills have gone up by only 4%. The answer is a whole range of government policies that add up to a disaster.
The Conservatives could solve all of this if they wanted to – but they don't. Instead they are trying to shore up their base by pushing 'culture war' policies such as the privatisation of Channel 4 – seen by their supporters as a 'woke' channel.
This is the rot at the heart of this Brexit government: it makes the vast majority of us poorer, financially and culturally, and perpetuates itself only through the urge to wreck and destroy its perceived enemies. That is why turning the situation around begins with getting rid of Boris Johnson and his cronies.
Taking to the streets
Thank you to all Stay European supporters who joined us on the recent march and vigil for Ukraine. It was good to be back on the march again and we expect to see many more protests in 2022 – there's no shortage of issues to protest about, after all.
One coming demonstration we would like to highlight is the National Rejoin March, now scheduled for autumn 2022 in London. Stay European is part of the organising committee for the march, and we'll keep you updated as the date and more details are due to be announced very soon.
We hope this can be a focus for the whole pro-EU movement - it may sound a while away, but there is no shortage of preparation to do. If you or your local pro-EU group would like to support the march and be part of the organising, you can get involved here.
