2/6/2024 0 Comments Fallout long road ahead jacobThe most telling element in Harri’s indiscreet admission is the pronoun Johnson reportedly used: “get himself out of the mess”. Now he’s working out how to get himself out of the mess,” Johnson’s newly appointed director of communications Guto Harri told The New European’s editor-in-chief Matt Kelly that year. Even in 2018, he realised he’d made a mistake. The story of the two Daily Telegraph columns – one pro-Brexit and one anti-Brexit – that he had ready to go before he declared his hand is well-known. Like Rees-Mogg, Johnson had his own doubts about the benefits of Brexit. But once again, the joke may be on the British people. None of this shrieks opportunities, hence all the jokes on Twitter featuring newly-minted minister Rees-Mogg lounging on the green benches of the House of Commons. Yet the only detectable impact so far is increased costs, paperwork and border delays.” Meg Hillier, chair of the committee, said: “One of the great promises of Brexit was freeing British businesses to give them the headroom to maximise their productivity and contribution to the economy – even more desperately needed now on the long road to recovery from the pandemic. We have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of changes to trading arrangements on businesses of all sizes and we remain concerned.” “It may not be possible to separate out the impact of these individual elements on the UK’s trade with the EU, but it is clear that EU exit has had an impact, and that new border arrangements have added costs to business. Since that date, trade volumes have been suppressed by the impact of COVID-19, EU exit, and wider global pressures,” the report said. “The transition period ended on 31 December 2020. Things could even get worse in September when the EU brings in stricter checks, unless Johnson’s government works with Brussels to reduce delays at UK ports. ![]() New border checks, in place since the beginning of the year, have hiked business costs and hobbled trade, it said. Less than 24 hours after Johnson appointed Rees-Mogg to the new Ministry of Sunlit Uplands, the cross-party public accounts committee (PAC) came out with a blistering report into how Brexit red tape has hammered Britain’s trade with the European Union. So far so farcical – and cynical – but behind the narcissistic, smug buffoonery, an economic tragedy is unfolding and it will not be blustered away. So why not create a Ministry for Brexit Opportunities, despite the glaring lack of same? And why not name a man who once said it might take 50 years to reap the opportunities of Brexit to lead it? He’s a man who knows a bit about opportunity, because the City firm he founded – Somerset Capital Management – opened two investment funds in Dublin ahead of the hard Brexit he championed because of fears of being cut off from European investors. No matter that “words have consequences”, to quote Speaker Lindsay Hoyle as he rebuked Johnson this week for his slur claiming Labour leader Keir Starmer failed to prosecute serial sex offender Jimmy Savile. Anything, however ludicrous or slanderous or fanciful, can be said or done. On their side of the looking-glass, there are no taboos.
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