Impact on daily life

Impact.  10^th November
Meanwhile back in the UK ….. What is all this about tariffs anyway?  Who cares about Brexit?  Why does the UK need a deal?  Boris said the UK left the EU in January – no problem?  Well actually there is a problem.  We have been carrying on as if we were still in the EU up to 31^st December 2020.  This was a time for UK to prepare for leaving the EU.  Unfortunately, we have had a virus problem and also the Government has not prepared very well.  So what are the issues?  At the moment, nearly all countries in the EU have open borders.  There are no custom checks if you travel from France to Germany, for example.  This means that apples grown in France can be sold in Germany – with no extra taxes.    But apples coming from countries not in the EU have to pay taxes.  The EU (and all countries) have taxes to protect their own farmers and businesses – so that someone cannot bring in cheap food and then sell it at less than the price for food grown in the country.  This makes sure that their own business do not suffer.  UK has cheap food from the EU and in return UK can sell its goods in the EU without extra taxes.  All that will change, if there is no agreement between the EU and the UK. Food will increase in price if it comes from the EU; examples like butter up 40p, chicken pieces up 26p, cheese up 56p.  And then all the bigger things like cars and travelling to the EU and driving licences and insurances – all going up.  The lorries which travel between UK and the EU will need special papers.  This is why there is pressure to solve the differences between UK and EU.  The talks are now almost out of time … they really have to agree this week…. Surely after 4 years talking some agreement can be reached.