Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
Problems facing the UK are many. Developing a better trading relationship with the EU is of course important so let's hope the discussions currently taking place in Belfast are positive, right?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...-deal-imminent

Obviously Brexit was a massive change followed weeks later by Covid and then the multitude of global issues stemming from that. Do you think that is fertile ground to assess something properly?

If Scotland became independent in Feb 2020 and in March 2020 Covid hit would you say that is a normal environment to make an assessment of the success or otherwise of it? I would be amazed if you thought it was.

It would be a great idea for a thread mind for us all to identify issues and talk about solutions for them. 👍
It is wryly ironic when people who saw our marriage with the EU as a problem now asking people if they have solutions to the divorce. Having a rational solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol that Johnson presented as the centrepiece of the "oven ready" deal that brought the DUP and the ERG on board would be a beneficial step. It will be interesting to see how Johnson and his cronies like Frost, the DUP and the ERG react if Sunak actually negotiates something rational.

Similarly there was a sensible conclave chaired by Gove the other week looking at identifying solutions to the problems that Brexit has caused. It triggered convulsive outrage from those aforementioned groups and the jingoist tabloids at the temerity of seeing issues with Brexit and the thought of softening the purism of our departure. Whilst the New Model Army holds sway in the Tory Party I doubt there will be any sensible steps forward.

The idea that our future prosperity lies with trade deals on far off shores, which if early signs are anything to go by are disadvantageous compared with the benefits to the other party, in a world looking a bit more inwards and shortening supply lines as green measures kick in is a massive leap of faith.

There is plenty of evidence from the OBR, Bank of England and other studies about the underperformance of our economy, we are the only major economy to recover from Covid and our forecasted (I know) future growth is parlous. There could be a range of reasons other than the Schengen in the room why the GDP fairy hasn't sprinkled its magic dust on us of course.

Sensible solutions would involve working on closer mutually beneficial relationships with our closest trading partners. I don't know where burning as much EU negotiated law and regulation as quickly as you can (a bit like sowing kippers into the curtains before the new owners move in) fits with your search for solutions but I am sure as soon as Guido pronounces you can paint it as a positive step.