Letter: Disadvantages of Brexit will become clear during negotiations
I read with interest the recent letters on Brexit. As a Remain voter I fear for some of the problems we will probably face during our negotiations with the EU.
Firstly, the contention that the UK market is too important for the EU to abandon and they will be forced to give us a good deal. The trade statistics are that 44 per cent of our trade is with the EU whilst only 18 per cent of the EU trade is with us – it is far easier for them to say goodbye to us.
Outside the EU we would probably have a minimum 10 per cent tariff on exports which would not only harm our trade but result in the departure to Europe of many global companies such as Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Vauxhall, Tata, Astrazeneca, etc.
If we do manage to stay in the European Economic Area (EEA), the EU will insist on free movement of labour as they have done with Norway and Switzerland. This will not please the racist element of Brexit.
If we do come out of the EEA all the finance companies based in London will lose the ability to sell services in Europe. These companies will be forced to move to Europe, depriving us of most of their revenues (around 74 per cent of our GDP). Frankfurt is already queuing up to replace London as the European finance hub. We are already losing part of the £1 billion pa provided for European research centres based in the UK such, with the resulting loss in expertise and jobs.
Many industries in danger of losing migrant labour (agricultural, hospitality, care homes, services, building etc) are worried by the resultant increase in costs with the strawberry industry as an example of one planning to move to Spain. If we leave the EU, Scotland and Northern Ireland who voted Remain will attempt to leave the UK for the EU (and Northern Ireland could become part of a unified Ireland).
This will leave England and Wales as a mini-nation controlled by the Tories and Ukip.
Whilst there are many things wrong with the EU, I voted Remain because the many advantages heavily outweigh such problems and in the coming months we will discover the disadvantages of Brexit.
I do not wish to live in a diminishing, xenophobic, racist, small-minded offshore island.
J D M Chadwick, Horsehay
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