Brexitchickens come hometoroost
With latest statistics highlighting that Scotland’s trade has plummeted since leaving the European Union, I was struck by recent research undertaken by economists at University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
Using state-of-the-art modelling to look at the impact of Brexit on trade for the UK and the devolved nations, it notes that Scotland could “undo the damage” of Brexit if it joined the EU as an independent nation.
As part of its ‘Global Britain’ strategy, in the wake of Brexit the UK is pursuing a series of Free Trade Agreements with countries around the world, including Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and possibly the United States.
However, the research finds that ‘Global Britain’ yields insufficient trade creation to compensate for Brexit trade losses and any losses due to Scottish independence from the rest of the UK could be entirely removed conditional on a renewed trade deal with the EU.
The Brexit chickens are indeed coming home to roost and it is increasingly clear that the only way to insulate ourselves from the long-term damage of Tory narrow nationalism is to become an independent nation, regaining the economic and trading benefits of EU membership.
Notasmartmoveby powercompanies
Energy companies are taking out full page adverts enticing people to fit smart meters.
This is not to help the householder but to stop energy companies being fined by the government for not fitting enough.
E.ON £7 million, Npower £2.4 million, OVO £ 1.2 million, SSE £700k and others.
The government belatedly realised that there would not be enough electricity, because of unreliable wind and sun, so smart meters will be used to cut off households and businesses when there is danger of blackouts.
There are even contingency plans to suck back the stored electricity from electric cars which are plugged in.
Still thinking of installing a smart meter and buying an EV?
What’sthetruth behindpricesrises?
It is easy to find energy companies that claim to supply 100 per cent renewable electricity.
But now these companies are using rising gas prices as an excuse for raising their prices.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that they have been lying all along.