Extend the Brexit transition period

RE: Western Mail on June 3, 2020, page 19 – report on Brexit.

The current situation is bad enough: we do not know how many businesses (big or small) will continue to exist in future, how many employees or self-employed people will permanently lose their livelihoods (without any prospects of finding another job).

Instead of trying everything to keep the economic damage to a minimum, the government seems to be doing everything to throw the country into deeper calamity by not extending the transition period with the EU.

The EU is perfectly happy to do just that, so that both the EU and Britain have enough time to fight the coronavirus catastrophe, get their economies running again to a degree and have time to sort out a trade deal.

But no, that would be too logical, too sensible, too good for the country.

Instead, Boris Johnson and Co prefer to crash out without a deal (and, of course, put the blame totally on the EU).

So, from January 1 there will be massive delays in goods coming into this country – with goods and documentation checked at the borders.

Just look at the food and household items that you normally buy and see how much is actually imported and imagine they would not be on the shelves – or at least would be much more expensive.

And what about exports? Just look at Wales.

Over 60% of Welsh exports go to countries in the EU.

Welsh farmers may be sitting on their Welsh lamb (surprisingly enough the majority of them voted to leave and may end up being out of business).

Yes, of course, the country can negotiate trade deals with whoever in the world they want. But trade deals take a long time to establish.

It took over seven years for the trade deal between the EU and Canada – and both say that this was quick.

So, in the next 10 years or so Britain may be in economic limbo. Trading on WHO conditions will make everything more expensive.

If Britain loses customers in the EU, then the economy will shrink even more.

One of the reasons for the British objections to a deal with the EU

is the EU’s insistence on common standards in food safety, animal welfare, consumer protection and the environment.

What is wrong with common standards in these areas in a common market with which we wish to have a free trade agreement?

Do we want to eat the American chlorine-washed chickens?

Do we want to revert to American standards of consumer protection and working conditions?

That Britain has left the EU is now a given fact – but the transition should lead to the least damage possible.

Leavers and Remainers should put pressure on their MPs to extend the transition period.

Otherwise, here’s my suggestion for a new slogan: Get Brexit done – run the country down.