Don’t blame Brexit for Covid problems
No, Tony (MetroTalk, Thu), the shortages on shelves are nothing to do with Brexit. At the start of the pandemic and the lockdowns, many continental Europeans who were living and working in the UK went back home and why wouldn’t they?
With no job and no money, and family back home at risk, any working in hospitality weren’t going to hang around here, waiting to deliver takeaway food when everything eventually went online.
Any who managed to keep their job through the pandemic simply applied for ‘Right To Stay’, a scheme that was open to everyone living and working here from the EU after Brexit.
Tom, London
Russ from Croydon (MetroTalk, Thu) is right that part of our labour shortage is due to a pre-Brexit glut of cheap foreign labour. How can that be the fault of the EU? Did we really have to leave it to address that problem?
A more sustainable answer was for British employers to pay decent living wages in the first place, offering genuine career opportunities rather than merely third-world subsistence.
Try as they might, the Brexiteers can’t blame Brussels for the failings of our own home-grown politicians, or those of their grateful benefactors.
Ian Edwards, Portchester
When is the government going to take empty shelves seriously? Cancelling Christmas is not an option. Christine Smith, St Austell
It cannot be denied that there are shortages on supermarket shelves but to bellow it from the rooftops smacks of creating panic buying – something the supermarket bosses decry while waving onions under their noses.
We all saw the empty shelves of perishable goods in the lockdown only to then see bins overflowing with uneaten fruit, veg and bread.
We should return to eating seasonally. Save on air-miles and needless journeys. Anyone walking around a supermarket can play the game, ‘Do I really need it?’ If one takes away the aisles that sell sugary items that are bad for you, you end up with a shop of about four aisles instead of 30!
I’m all in favour of bringing back markets.
Torquil Boyd, Hertfordshire
I’m sorry Carolyne (MetroTalk, Wed) will have to pay more when dining out because the cost of replacing low-paid EU staff who have left because of Brexit will be passed on to customers.
However, I don’t agree that this will be entirely negative, at least not for the middle classes. It would be a good thing if the wages in hospitality increase and attract the unemployed.
As someone originally from Eastern Europe, I’d like to point out that not all low-paid EU migrant workers
benefit the UK economy. A lot of people work minimal hours to qualify for family credit and rely on housing benefit.
Those who left their families behind send their earnings home, taking money out of this country’s circulation. Of course, people who benefit from low-paid labour don’t wish to see these workers leave.
Anna, London
Regarding shortages, it depends on what you are buying from the supermarket. There’s no problem getting Scottish strawberries and tomatoes, which taste delicious and are better than any EU produce. Buy British and support UK farms.
Guy, Glasgow
If we put a bit more thought into logistics, things might run a bit smoother. How about using freight trains more to move stuff between towns and cities?
Then you would need fewer HGVs – also better for the environment.
Chris, Lincoln
So, this is the start of what the UK looks like after Brexit – being denied chicken and milkshake. The UK is already the sick man of Europe again. The wasteland of the 1970s with sky-high prices is returning.
Karen, Birmingham