Brexit is back in the headlines (although it never really seems to go away). Yesterday’s press conference between the Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission saw them both announce the Windsor Framework. Although it probably won’t convince the most ardent Brexiteers, the DUP, or those who have something to gain from making life difficult for Sunak, it’s actually a really good deal and I don’t think we could hope for better.
Improving our relationship with our nearest trading partner (or at least not trying to annoy them) is obviously a good thing and it helps to avoid violence on the island of Ireland. It also paves the way for the UK rejoining Horizon which will help the government to realise its ambition of transforming the UK into a science superpower. It will also patch things up with Biden. I’m not convinced that this will make getting a trade deal with the US more likely for the reasons I set out here last year. Regardless, it’s important to be on good terms with the most powerful nation on Earth.
It just goes to show what can happen in negotiations when everyone behaves like adults, don’t treat the other side with contempt, and don’t make ridiculous demands. Well done UK, well done, EU, well done to the negotiators, well done EVERYONE!
Brexit is also in the news due to the shortages of fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves. Given that there are no such shortage in mainland Europe many people have been quick to blame Brexit. I hate to be that guy (I actually love it), but I think you’ll find that it’s a bit more complicated than that. I’m in Conservative Home today explaining why. Click the link below to give it a read.
If I’d have more space then I would have obviously gone into detail about energy prices and the need to increase immigration to improve the productivity of the agriculture sector. Moreover, as Patrick Lohlein points out, part of the issue is with the operating model of UK supermarkets which prefer to offer price stability to customers rather than raising prices in line with supply and demand.
That’s pretty much it. Thanks for reading and subscribing!