Another Brexit Bonus

[Swiss Peter]

Record oil and gas exports to the EU.

I swear, the guardian staff must have keyboards with a specific 'despite brexit' key to save time.
https://www.theguardian.com/business...ukraine-brexit

....and, of course, without Brexit none of this would have been possible.

[JamesWales]

....and, of course, without Brexit none of this would have been possible.

I'm not saying that. I've always been of the belief that leaving or remaining in the EU would have far less of an impact than many on either side suggested.

FYI - Exports to the EU are the highest since records began. Why isn't that reported?
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/natio...22#main-points

[Swiss Peter]

I'm not saying that. I've always been of the belief that leaving or remaining in the EU would have far less of an impact than many on either side suggested.

FYI - Exports to the EU are the highest since records began. Why isn't that reported?
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/natio...22#main-points

Maybe because it is all a bit inconclusive. Does the growth in UK's trade with EU outstrip that of other similar economies? Is the growth higher than would have been the case if UK had remained in the EU?

I certainly don't know, but some people (no doubt with their own agendas) think the answer to both questions over the longer term is 'no'.

https://www.ft.com/content/2f63ef97-...d-4fb2e7ee9a5a

(Behind a firewall for me now, so may also be for others)

Anyway, trade impacts are only one aspect, which it seems can be argued either way depending on which data and timescales you look at. In a sense maybe I'm partly agreeing with with your second sentence. I think our international standing and reputation, the delicate political situation in NI, and our access to world leading research are also critical issues. Do you think we are in a better place now than without Brexit when you look at this bigger picture?

[JamesWales]

Maybe because it is all a bit inconclusive. Does the growth in UK's trade with EU outstrip that of other similar economies? Is the growth higher than would have been the case if UK had remained in the EU?

I certainly don't know, but some people (no doubt with their own agendas) think the answer to both questions over the longer term is 'no'.

https://www.ft.com/content/2f63ef97-...d-4fb2e7ee9a5a

(Behind a firewall for me now, so may also be for others)

Anyway, trade impacts are only one aspect, which it seems can be argued either way depending on which data and timescales you look at. In a sense maybe I'm partly agreeing with with your second sentence. I think our international standing and reputation, the delicate political situation in NI, and our access to world leading research are also critical issues. Do you think we are in a better place now than without Brexit when you look at this bigger picture?

We don't know the answer to your questions. What we do know is that exports are at a record high (would be nice if the BBC reported it) and our unemployment is lower and our wages-inflation rate, whilst poor is vastly better than the EU's at the moment - all of it points to our problems not being caused by the big B and perhaps even being aided by it.

We would all agree that the pandemic has absolutely shattered any ability to properly analyse things. I think the country is more divided than it should be, though I do largely pin that on those that didn't accept the result and fought against it. In other terms, I think it's neutral, perhaps better as the vaccine rollout and wage growth is perhaps aided by it.

[Swiss Peter]

We don't know the answer to your questions. What we do know is that exports are at a record high (would be nice if the BBC reported it) and our unemployment is lower and our wages-inflation rate, whilst poor is vastly better than the EU's at the moment - all of it points to our problems not being caused by the big B and perhaps even being aided by it.

We would all agree that the pandemic has absolutely shattered any ability to properly analyse things. I think the country is more divided than it should be, though I do largely pin that on those that didn't accept the result and fought against it. In other terms, I think it's neutral, perhaps better as the vaccine rollout and wage growth is perhaps aided by it.

Thanks for the genuine answer to a genuine question.

Of course, the more we consider unquantifiable things like international standing/reputation, the more we have to rely on our own perceptions. You regard the wider picture as 'neutral', I think the wider picture is an embarrassing utterly avoidable mess.

By the way, you slipped in 'vaccination rollout' as a Brexit benefit. It's old ground, but people forget stuff, so just as a quick reminder, the facts are actually:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/55163730

https://www.channel4.com/news/factch...-authorisation