Brexit is a disaster

Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for IW East, was quick to reach for the ‘send’ button yesterday to exclaim that this week’s UK-EU trade deal is a ‘disaster’ for industry.

The reality is – and I’m aware that for some readers this will be a bold statement – it is Brexit which is the disaster. Brexit is a disaster for our tourism industry, our manufacturing industry, our music industry. Exporters are blocked by expensive non-tariff barriers, importers are struggling with hikes in import fees.

Brexit is a disaster for shoppers, who have seen the prices of our food and clothing rise significantly since we left the EU. Brexit is a disaster if you want to go on holiday – with long queues at ports and airports, 90 day limit on trips and even more paperwork to come with the imposed ETIAS clearance required (7 euros each).

Brexit is a disaster for our universities and young people, with applications to UK universities from EU students dropping by over 50% which has had dire consequences for HE funding and the sustainability of courses for UK students. Brexit is a disaster for UK students who can no longer have the opportunity to live, work and study abroad.

Brexit is a disaster for the environment and human health, with protections which had dropped off the UK statute book and resulting in more sewage in our rivers, more pesticides in our soils and slower reduction of carbon emissions and pollution in our air.

Brexit is a failure, a catastrophe, a complete mess. It was sold to the public as a bunch of lies, by a group of liars who have overseen massive decline in the standing of our country in the world, and huge divisions between us living here.

We need much more honesty in politics – we must call it out for what it is. Brexit is a total disaster.