Re: 鈥淲hy Brexit makes a lot of sense,鈥� comment, April 7.
The author makes many valid comments on this matter, but fails to mention the other side of the conundrum facing the Brits over exiting the European Union. During the Brexit campaign, the electorate were assured leaving the EU would not be complex, with no risk to the economy. They were also advised that the $500-million weekly contribution to the EU would be saved and plowed into the National Health Service.
No mention was made of the subsidies and rebates the U.K. receives in return, which halves this figure. This includes the Common Agriculture Policy, cited by the writer as 鈥渢ariffs imposed to protect French farmers,鈥� which includes British farmers, too.
Liam Fox, the Brexit trade secretary, claimed: 鈥淭he free trade agreement 鈥� with the EU should be one of the easiest in human history.鈥� It must be blindingly obvious that this statement was a triumph of optimism over fact. The EU accounts for about 40聽per cent of British trade, and many of the international investments made in the U.K. over the past 25 years were based on free-market access to a trading bloc of 400 million people, not merely the 66 million in the U.K.
All of the above possibly explains why the Brexiteers are loath to have another referendum on this matter now that the British public are better informed. Very much a case of be careful what you wish for.
Alistair Crooks
Brentwood Bay
