So, does the closure of the "Benefits of Brexit" thread mean that there are officially no benefits to Brexit, the the Remainers have won the argument and we can all move on to arguing about something else now?
It is how the individual views it. Most leave voters I know are absolutely happy with brexit. They see a definite benefit of brexit. We have got out of the EU & that is the benefit for leavers. Their vote was respected in the end. For plenty of people who are still working ok or are getting their old age pensions nothing has changed financially for them. The supermarket shelves are still full so no worries. They don’t work in any industries that are affected by brexit.
For some there will definite benefits. We have left the single market so everything needs customs clearance. Both the public sector & private sector will need to train 1000s of new employees to work in customs clearance. It is skilled well paid work. If government stands firm & does not allow farmers to import unskilled migrant workers then maybe some of those farmers will invest & mechanise & employ local people in better paid & less exploitive work ? Plenty of UK firms are having to open wharehouses in Europe but if their previous UK operations were staffed mainly by migrant labour then little is visibly being lost.
Plenty of leavers I know go on holiday to Europe. Mostly Spain for a couple of weeks. As far as they are concerned once Covid is over they can go again. They are not bothered it might take them 10 more minutes at the airport.
I voted remain because I could not see the point of leaving. I was & still am a Labour voter. I would have gone for a second referendum which might well have been won by remain by a small majority but then the argument would have continued.
Some Labour MPs ie Stephen Kinnock said Labour should have voted through Theresa May’s deal which would have kept us in the customs union & kept free movement. With hindsight perhaps this was a good idea? Johnson’s “oven ready” deal was just the deal offered by EU first but May rejected because it put a customs border in the UK & Johnson agreed at the time.
Brexit will reduce GDP you cannot argue with the maths but it is for the government to decide what to do with the revenue. Tax cuts for the rich or better social services ? The UK voters can decide at the next general election.
For some brexit has spoiled their lives. Plenty of pensioners loved the lifestyle of spending most of their time in a motorhome in Southern Europe. Some will have sold large homes in the the UK. Bought a mobile home on a UK holiday park to keep a UK base & spent £100k on a large motorhome. Others will have homes in the UK & homes or mobile homes in France or Spain spending most of their time in Europe. With the ending of free movement ours as well as EU nationals they are now restricted to 90 days in every 180. Their lifestyles spoiled but to most this will sound like trouble in paradise.
For myself my trips to Europe are more modest. Car & tent in France & Spain. Trips are less than 90 days so little change for me. I was angry about the leave vote for a while but I have accepted it now. Why be bitter ? Most of my friends voted leave & are happy with how things are. We agree to differ & remain friends.
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