Post Segments
Dear Subscribers,
Once again, the English football team are proving themselves worthy recipients of their healthy pay packets: fighting off the old demons with victory over Germany, notching up an impressive four goals against Ukraine, and generally reminding us that a bit of patriotism is no bad thing. Here’s hoping that this young team from a variety of backgrounds will continue to unite England behind them for many years to come!
England’s sterling work continues
Nissan’s plan to build a large car battery plant in Sunderland is also excellent news, confounding project fear predictions that Nissan would pull out of the UK. The 6,000 jobs are most welcome although they merely replace jobs lost elsewhere in the UK due to the rundown of internal combustion engine production. Tesla’s giga-factory in Berlin will be seven times larger but Nissan are keeping the UK in the new world of electric vehicles.
Nissan loves Brexit Britain
Meanwhile, over in Northern Ireland, the three-month extension of the current grace period means has seen the ‘Sausage War’ put on hold. Of course, there is a risk that this is simply a matter of kicking the can(nned hot dogs) down the road. But David Frost continues to make all the right noises, and we trust that he will be using this time wisely, to ensure a more permanent solution by autumn.
On the website this week
Blogs
No, UK services exports have not been hamstrung by Brexit, by Harry Western
Recent claims that UK services exports have been badly hit by Brexit are not backed up by the data. Unlike with goods, there was no dip in services exports to the EU at the start of 2021, and nor does the evidence support the contention that services exports growth slowed in the years after the Brexit referendum. Indeed, UK services exports seem to have performed better since 2015 than those of key competitors such as the US or France.
“The available data suggest – at most – a very modest underperformance of services exports to the EU, relative to those to the ROW, from 2015-2019. But this apparent underperformance can’t be directly linked to Brexit.”
Identity politics and impartiality are not compatible, by Nick Busvine
The determination on the part of our senior mandarins to drive the woke agenda in their departments in opposition to government policy begs a range of questions. But one thing is plain: if civil servants are intent on engaging in identity politics, they cannot be impartial.
“While Lord Frost has his work cut out on the international front, can we now safely assume that the machinery of government is fully reconciled to Brexit and pulling firmly in the same direction as the government?”
Inflation the Main Threat to UK Economic Recovery, by Robert Lee
In previous articles Rob Lee has taken a bullish stance on the UK’s economic and fiscal prospects post-Brexit and post the Covid crisis. Recent developments have been strongly supportive of this view. He also warned that inflation in the US would rise strongly, which it has, but felt that the UK could avoid a major inflation problem. However, the Bank of England’s complacency on inflation is becoming disturbing. Unless the Bank changes course soon the current strong UK economic recovery could be derailed by a sharp rise in interest rates by 2023.
“The Chancellor is right to resist pressure from the PM for higher public spending. He would be well advised to start pressuring the BoE, privately and publicly, to take the inflation threat a lot more seriously.”
An Open Letter to my MP, by A.J. Lane
It is encouraging that Ministers have reached a free trade agreement with Australia, but A.J. Lane was shocked to realise that this agreement still leaves Australia in a less favourable position than the European Union.
“Surely this unhappy failure calls for a re-think before the Australian agreement is ratified.”
Brexit: 5 years on, by Robert Tombs
What in 2016 seemed a very British decision to leave the EU, now seems part of wider changes in the world. BfB co-editor Robert Tombs explores this broader context.
“Then there was the pandemic, a sudden materialisation of the dangers of the 21st century: the perils of globalisation; the duplicity and ruthless irresponsibility of China; the absence of effective global organisations; the complacency of the West.”
We are also on Twitter, posting articles and retweeting the daily events that bring Brexit to the fore in the national news.
Discussion also continues over on Facebook.
How you can help
There is much about Brexit still to be decided. Our MPs listen to their constituents. Do continue to send them links to our articles, especially on matters relevant to your constituency – for example, in rural areas, articles on the threat to British agriculture. Alternatively, make an appointment to speak to them at their next surgery. Let them know what you want post-Brexit Britain to look like.
As Boris Johnson said in in his post-election address, it is also time for unity and reconciliation. Keep reading our posts and share links to our quality content to help others understand how leaving the EU will be good for the UK economy and for our own democratic governance. We aim to educate our critics to think differently and more positively about the long-term impact of Brexit.
You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Yours Sincerely,
Newsletter Editor
An Oxbridge PhD Student
Dr Graham Gudgin
Economist, Centre for Business Research, Judge Business School University of Cambridge
Professor Robert Tombs
Emeritus Professor of French History, University of Cambridge
