It’s finally happened; In what Prime Minister Theresa May has described as “an historic moment from which there can be no turning back,” Britain has invoked Article 50 and formally started the “Brexit” process of withdrawing from the European Union.
Unsurprisingly, the media is packed with stories about this monumental moment. At PetrolPrices.com, we’ve been looking at the potential impacts on UK drivers – some of which could prove hugely significant over the coming months and years.
Petrol prices
In the short term, it seems unlikely that this initial stage of Brexit will have any particularly noticeable effect on the price of petrol and diesel.
Save for a small bump in the value of Sterling against the Euro in the immediate wake of the Article 50 letter being delivered to the EU, the currency markets have remained calm. After all, everyone knew this moment was coming. Oil prices also remain solidly around the $50 per barrel mark, where they’ve now hovered for some time.
As negotiations progress, however, things could change rapidly. The UK price of fuel is heavily influenced by the value of the Pound against the US Dollar. Any signs that the Brexit negotiations are going badly (perhaps due to disagreements over the UK’s “exit bill”) could hit Sterling hard, perhaps causing it to fall in value by anything up to another 20%.
That said, if things go more smoothly on this score, and oil prices remain reasonably static, it’s unlikely we’ll see shifts in fuel prices of any more than 10 pence per litre either way in the medium term.
Buying and selling vehicles
The price of vehicles already seems set to rise in the future as a direct effect of Brexit. The fact that many car parts are purchased from elsewhere is already pushing up prices due to how much Sterling has weakened since the referendum.
The flipside of this is that cars being theoretically “worth more” in the UK could mean that residual values strengthen, boosting resale prices.
Another interesting point, raised in a report in The Telegraph, is that Brits may not have quite so many new car models to pick from. This is because of the costs involved in adapting cars for right-hand drive. Coupled with the increasing cost of parts, it seems likely some manufacturers will simply decide not to make certain models for the UK market.
It’s also worthy of note that consumable parts – including tyres, brake pads and filters, could go up in price due to similar currency-related reasons.
Travelling and driving abroad
The precise implications of Brexit for Brits driving to and within Europe will take a while to play out. Until the process is complete, nothing will officially change.
However, once the changes begin they could be significant.
First off, the days of the “booze cruise” to France or elsewhere could well be numbered. Britain will break away from EU customs arrangements in time. This may mean “genuine” duty-free goods from just over the channel, but the quantities of alcohol and tobacco individuals will be permitted to purchase will vastly reduce from where they are now. If the limits match those currently set with countries outside the EU, we may well see limits of four litres of wine and a single carton of cigarettes per person – a vast reduction on what’s allowed now.
It’s also reasonable to expect that customs and border checks will be far more involved and time-consuming than they are now. All-in-all, a quick jaunt over to France to stock up with beer and wine will become far less appealing once Brexit is complete – unless Prime Minister May manages to strike up some kind of bespoke deal for the UK.
Insurance and other legalities
A reduction in the amount of booze we can bring back from Europe may seem rather insignificant compared to other changes that could come to pass, depending on the outcome of Britain’s negotiations with the EU.
While Brits will no doubt be able to continue to travel to mainland Europe, there’s a chance their length of stay could be curtailed if true freedom of movement is lost. Some pundits have even discussed the prospect of Brits needing a visa for travel, but realistically the negotiations would have to go really badly for this to come to pass.
A more likely issue for Brits is the loss of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), should Britain end up leaving the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as the EU. Should this happen, UK citizens will need private health insurance to receive medical treatment when travelling in the EU.
Car insurance-wise, it’s unlikely much will change, although an EU law change back in 2o12 outlawed the practice of insurance companies offering cheaper premiums to (statistically safer) female drivers. Should the UK decide not to continue to implement this, women could see their insurance costs fall, at least in theory – but this doesn’t seem especially likely.
How do you feel about the announcement of Brexit? What do you think will be the biggest impacts on UK drivers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
We’ve left the EU, but that’s all the more reason why you should get your Union Flag the right way up. Not impressed.
What are you on about….it IS the correct way up.
Michael Smit, we have not left the EU, we are in the process of withdrawing.
@Brian Fullerton – look at the flag, it is hoisted on the right so the broad diagonal white stripe should be at the top of the diagonal at the top right corner of the flag.
Unecumbered travel to Europe will seem like a small loss compared to all the other significant downsides of leaving the EU.
I’m still waiting to hear a single genuine benefit from this national act of colossal self-harm.
Neal,
You may wish to consider the lack of individual rights which we have due to EU legislation. This country has Habeus Corpus embedded in the legal system which mean people can’t be locked up without evidence and the legal system , and their well-being and protection is enshrined in law.
Europe…Not so…
We are committed to handing over people without any evidence being presented who may then be locked up abroad for several years without any charges ever even being brought. Furthermore there is a protection to those arresting them (and even the families of those arresting them!) against being prosecuted for anything that happens to those taking away in that manner.
We have received several benefits though being in the EU but have also seen a major curtailing of rights and freedoms
Me too. Seen a lot of uninformed BS though!!!
You’re correct! The union jack’s orientation depends on which side it is mounted. It would be correct if the post was on the opposite side and the narrow band at the bottom. If you approach the above flag from the other direction it is clearly wrong.
I prefer to get my brexit news from the spectator, and use petrolprices.com to find the cheapest fuel. As usual the article is all gloom and sees no upsides.How about the significant value to Germany of car exports to UK being a strong negotiating card?
For example rather than bemoaning the demise of the booze-cruise, you might suggest that people may choose to spend their booze-cruise money in the UK, reviving parts that other beers cannot reach.
Well, it is upside down, which indicates a distress signal. Not entirely wrong then.
Well it is upside down, which indicates a distress signal. No entirely wrong then.
If all the scare mongers care to check the history and our membership of the EU you will actually find that our membership into the EU is one big LIE.#
We actually joined the common market for a trade alliance under Ted Heath.
It was assumed that because we had done that that the U.K would want to stay joined when it changed to the European Union. We did not join the E.U at this time like the rest of the european nations did, we were joined n=by the assumption that we would and it has not happened to this date.
So technically we have nothing to leave as we dont belong to the European Union.
As far as paying compensation to the EU for our country leaving. I think they should be paying us for misleading
us for years and fixing things (like not being able to deal with non EU countries without permission) and costing this country billions in lost revenuse from WORLD trade deals.
Other countries drive on the left eg. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, many in Africa, the Phillipines, Malaysia etc. Car manufacturers will still make left hand drive cars for the UK to purchase whether we’re in the EU or not.
Anyone who genuinely cares which way round the flag is needs to reevaluate their priorities
If the EU is so brilliant why is Greece bankrupt? You can’t save a nation drowning in debt by throwing more debt at it any more than you can save a drowning man by throwing more water on him. The EU is designed to help French farmers and German industry. Maintaining the Euro is obviously beneficial to Germany (artificially low exchange rate) and crippling to Southern Europe (artificially high exchange rate). It will all implode one day like the Soviet Union as the European Commissioners cannot be voted out so they carry on harmful policies until the money runs out, Socialism is like that. Neil Kinnock is a UK reject politician (Kinnock led the Labour Party to a surprise fourth consecutive defeat in the 1992 general election) and yet is effectively an un-elected Prince of Europe on the EU Commission. This state of affairs could not happen in the real world, so this is not the longer term real world.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions which seems apt to remember for a petrol price comparison service.
In their previous EnglishExit (under Henry VIII) they went on to become the greatest trading nation in the world. Advance Britannia.
The Union Flag flown in the picture is upside down. Distress signal at sea. Narrow white stripe should be at the bottom of flag against the jack staff/ hoist.
The price of car components increasing will be as a result of us allowing our manufacturing base to diminish or be sold to foreign investors. Let’s restore our manufacturing and show again how good we once were.
I completely agree with you John. Over the years, I watched the ‘ONCE GREAT’ British car industry fade away to almost nothing. Lets hope that now, we can finally start showing the world that we are capable of building great cars once again
In all seriousness, it’s not going to happen.
australia and new zealand drive on the same side as the drivers in the UK
It makes me wonder that people who don’t care about whether or not the Union Jack is upside down or not can’t be that bothered about details being right!
If that is the case let’s hope that none of these people are involved in any of the Brexit negotiations as “The Devil may be in the detail”
Just for clarity and for those who don’t care;
“The broader (wider) diagonal white stripe should be at the top on the side of the flag nearest the flagpole. The UK flag is NOT entirely symmetrical! You can rotate the flag and it still will be the right way up but you can’t invert it.
Brexit is the best thing that has happened.
Short term, there may be a few speed bumps in the way, but we will soon get over them.
FYI, the weakening £ was nothing to do with Brexit. It was heading down anyway. It dipped a little after the Referendum, but within 3 days, it was higher than it was prior to Brexit. Had there been no Ref, the £ would have done just the same.
Within 10 years, (probably much less) our GDP will be greater than that of Germany.
Getting the millstone that is the unelected gravy train EU from around our necks cannot come soon enough.
Technically, we never joined the EU anyway. We joined the Common Market then known as the EEC. It is that which we joined after a Referendum in 1975. It morphed into the EU and we were dragged kicking and screaming into it, not being able to do a thing about it. All the regulations that came with the EU were NOT what the Country agreed to when we joined the EEC.
Everything will settle down, and we will soon be a much richer and independent Country.
I can’t wait!
Clearly you have no idea what Brexit has done and may well do in the future.
You CAN invert the Union Flag but then it becomes one of the several long established distress signals at sea.
Anyone who DOESN’T care which way round the flag is needs to reevaluate their priorities.
the ‘boose cruise’ ending will mainly effect those in the wealthy South east’ – not much of a saving if you have to spend £100 driving down there – this should help governement income aswell. They will now have to pay duty on the boose and the fags – i have seen some horrendous figures which said that 80% of fags in the South East are duti free imports. All positive for the North and Midlands.
Also confused as last year i read a report saying that there were now more left hand drive (drive on the left hand side)
cars in the world than right?
I would also like to make a comment about the ‘Union’ Flag. Call me whatever you want, (I had a lot worse at school, I can tell ya), but now ENGLAND have started the process of leaving the EU, could we possibly get our own flag & while we are at it our own National Anthem.
If all you have to worry about is wether a flag is the right way up then you are very fortunate.
We do have an English Flag of our own, the Red Cross on the White background which is derived from the cross of St George.
Unfortunately this sort of thing is not being taught at school anymore and some people believe that the Union Jack is the flag of England.
Some more reasons that we need to exit Europe and teach our children with British teachers.
Personally I don’t give a toss which way the flag is up. I am fed up of seeing it draped round the shoulders of ultra right wing fascists, perhaps it’s time for a new UK flag, but there again there might not be a UK as we know it for much longer so a new flag would be needed then anyway. And what’s it got do with the price of petrol (or mine) anyway?
ENGLAND is NOT leaving the EU. The U.K. Is leaving the EU (and Scotland and NI are not happy about it). There are significant differences between these institutions. England already has its own flag, the Cross of St George – the Union Jack is made from the flags of England, Scotland and NI (Wales not included). And as for ‘British’ teachers teaching ‘British’ values – as a nation we don’t train enough of any public profession. Schools, the NHS etc will all struggle without free movement.
According the boss of the NHS this morning (Today BBC R4) EU citizens account for 4% (Four) of the work force and they have more British nationals applying for training than they have places. Please stop scaremongering.
English and Japanese cars are build as right hand drive, so difference with those, I wouldn’t buy a German or French car…
And England DOES have a national anthem – God Save the Queen. It just so happens to share this with Northern Ireland and therefore is used to represent the U.K. too. Scotland and Wales both have their own. Flower of Scotland and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, respectively
Just to add to the Thread, I Totally Support Habeus Corpus, bit it was writ in the 17 hundreds, with it’s former basis within the Magna Carta, which pre-dates by some 500 years; I think we need to focus upon the World both we and our Children now live in, I don’t see whereby your comment that Article 50 negates any of this; if you as a person and are up to no-good, then you should live in fear; if you are going about your daily business, then you have nothing to fear; your Comments re; Curtailing Rights could be potentially strewn as you are doing something wrong, Regards.
Well said Kelvin were are the negative comments coming from on your comments obviously from a remainer . Go go Britain we can do it Get shut of sturgeon she asn’t got a clue I wish Brits had all the perks the scot’s have, funded by the taxpayer!!!!!
I don’t follow the cost of vehicles being higher for RHD markets argument. I have just got back from 2 months in NZ, Australia and Hong Kong. All have RHD, as well as Japan, South Africa and other countries.
European vehicles are now rare in these countries and the Japanese, Korean and Malaysian manufacturers have moved in big time. Mercedes used to have the international taxi market. No longer. In NZ and Aus Toyota have a virtual monopoly with their modern hybrids. In HK they have it with the older Crown. Tesla have moved into HK big time. Their Model S and X are everywhere. All these are made in RHD and selling well.
Germany failed twice to physically conquer Europe and the main stumbling block was the UK until other countries joined us. Now Germany is trying to conquer Europe economically. Yet again the UK has stood up against them. What odds do you give on other countries joining us once they see the benefits?
One other thing. Can we start a campaign for at least one Brexit free day a week (i.e. no news reports, no irrelevent BBC reporting etc.). We have made our decision. We, the voters, have no say in the negotiations so let us, at least, have some respite from continuous, mainly ‘finger in the air’ hypotheses.
This is getting silly. We are bombarded by articles all saying – If and but and maybe and, for heavens sake. This country existed and prospered for centuries before Ted Heath and Harold Wilson told us a pack of lies to disguise the fact that they were taking us into a political union. It took over 40 years for the people to rumble the politicians and now we are on the way out.
Do all you remoaner journalists get paid to write doom and gloom speculation about speculation? Is that what the 50 billion ransom demanded by the EU for?
The £ goes up and down – In 1987 it went to 1,04 on the $. A few years ago it was 1.10 on the Euro. Meantime Germany’s main banks are on the verge of bankruptcy, Italy’s are and Spain, Portugal are on the brink. Greece is down its own plughole. The Euro has allowed Germany to prosper by having a currency undervalued by 15% (IMF figure) whilst trashing other countries economies and creating such terrible unemployment that many EU citizens have had to head for the UK to escape poverty in the EU. According to the IMF and the BofE the £ was overvalued by about 15% and is now roughly where it should be. But according to you remoaners it’s OK if Germany has a 30% advantage against UK companies but when we redress that by 50% it;s wrong. What is the matter with you people?
As so called duty free is more expensive than buying in a corner shop in Germany or parts of France it’s no great loss. Car insurance for EU driving has long been a scam and fuel prices (especially diesel) in many EU countries are lower than ours. It may surprise Eurocentric federalist scare mongers that many parts of the world drive on the left and that, oddly enough, manufactures adapt things to markets to make money and as the UK is Germany’s biggest export market they just might go on doing that.
We have a wonderful opportunity to restore democracy, take back our country and create a vibrant outward looking society freed from the shackles of a protectionist totalitarian rump of Eurasia. If you can’t see the benifit of re-joining the world it’s sad, but doubtless some fast sinking part of the EU empire will welcome you.
I think a lot of people here aren’t old enough to remember the UK before we joined the “common market”. My 1st vote at 18 was to join as I was told it would mean more jobs, more choice, and cheaper prices.
Over the last 40 years I’ve been proved wrong.
Prices have gone up, jobs have gone down, and choice is limited to whatever the rest of Europe wants me to buy.
It’s not a “common market” because different countries charge different prices. The Euro would never work because of that. The Euro was supposed to be 1 value for all and it isn’t.
For those who voted to remain, who don’t agree with the majority, then tough; that’s what happens in a democratic vote. If you’re not happy then move to the EU. Nothing to stop you at the moment.
Leaving the EU has little to do with business, commerce or free movement of people. It’s about a federal system which doesn’t suit the UK; we live in a democracy, with our own legal system, that has worked perfectly well for the last 1000 years without interference from an unelected President of the EU or his committee of cronies.
Germany has failed to rule Europe because of our intervention over 2 world wars until now; well if France, who capitulated to the Germans twice, are happy to be ruled by Germany then let them get on with it. The former Communist states like the Czech Republic and Poland are now regretting joining the EU as they haven’t benefited as much as they’d been lead to believe. I think they will be the next to leave.
As far as trading in the future there are lots of countries that we trade with already and maybe we can go back to trading with our old partners that we had before they were dumped in favour of Europe.
Your comment “Over the last 40 years I’ve been proved wrong.
Prices have gone up, jobs have gone down, and choice is limited to whatever the rest of Europe wants me to buy.” is so hilarious it’s unreal.
TV’s and white goods are cheaper than ever, there’s so many jobs the UK can’t fill all the vacancies and thanks to the internet there’s more choice than at any point in history. Complete fool.
Petrol Prices: Could we now stop all the negativity with regard to leaving the EU. We are leaving and that is that, whether you voted leave or remain. All the speculation of what might happen is not doing our economy any good, after all, misery breads misery. Lets all get on with making it work and leave all the negativity to the Biased Broadcasting Corporation.
I agree with Richard Nunn.I remember Europe before the “Common market” later to become the European Union..The Union has been dominated by Germany and lets not forget that historically Germany has torn up every agreement that the country has signed.The European Union is a federalist state formed on the Soviet system.For the pollit bureau it has the Commisioners,for the Dumo it has the “parliament” and then at the head the presidents.The Commisioners and the Presidents are unelected by the people and are therefore undemocratic.Before the Union we travelled without visas and without problems,in fact it was quite fun as youngsters to collect the border stamps on our passports.Please do not adopt the attitude of doom and gloom shown by the poor loosers in the referendum.Let’s be positive and appreciate that there is a great big world out there that presents us with challenges and great opportunities.We British have historically been great adventurers and traders throughout the world.Lets not let our heritage down.Lets go forward with a positive approach and grasp the opportunity with both hands!!!
I am quite surprised at the comments on here and thought I was going to be reading lots of remain views. How wrong I was and how pleased I am to read the level headed replies of those who back the leave section of the UK. I have read about the big con of the EU being for easy and better trading between all nation members. That is just not so as the EU have come up with many ways to obliterate some industries in the UK by applying rules that meant whole factories shut down because to modernise within time limits was impossible. I worked in a paper mil making cardboard for most of the UK packaging. This included food packaging for the likes of Kelloggs etc. The days when we bought corn flakes etc in a box and in that was a sealed waxy paper wrapper with the corn flakes in. The EU decided that this wasn’t acceptable and we couldn’t modernise quick enough as paper making machines are massive. Funnily enough Germany, Belgium and Italy had slightly more modern machines so they got most of the UK food packaging business. Then we had the myth of superior German engineering in vehicles. That is a load of nonsense as the only German car I had from new was a bloody nightmare. I had old British made bangers that gave less trouble. On visiting the continent all I saw was in Germany, German cars and in France, French cars, in Italy mostly Italian cars. Here Joe public fell for the German is best. Yes we had a few bum cars made here but the EU had many more failed designs. Why have the EU not filed any audited accounts? Because they can’t, because they don’t know where the money goes so how can they ask the UK to pay an exit fee? They probably owe us. One comment mentioned the defeat of Germany in two world wars and from 1945 they schemed with France to defeat Europe by stealth and the formation of the EU. If you have ever been to the South of Frnace you may have experienced the very cool attitude to the British. I am glad we are getting out of this organisation and hope many other countries do the same until it disintegrates.
This article was so obviously penned by a ‘remoaner’. To suggest that multinational companies will make the decision to stop selling in the UK having privately referred to us as ‘treasure island’ for decades is laughable. And then to write that foreign customs will be ordered by their politicians to slow down our transit as we arrive for our holidays is again ludicrous. Everybody wants our money and in some cases (spain) are desperate for it. If they play hardball we can go elsewhere.
To reply to Liam Campbell (March 30th 2017). The National Anthem for Great Britain is “God save the Queen”, sung to the original tune of “Heil dir in Siegerkranz”, which, I think, tranlates as “Hail to the Victor’s Crown” and was the official German Anthem until 1918. The author of the tune is unknown but is attributed to John Bull, a British composer in 1619.
Neither England nor Scotland does have a national anthem, especially not “Flower of Scotland” which was written only in 1965 by a Scottish folk group and is not official in any way. I cannot speak for Wales but as I write, Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom and I would wish it to remain so.
I was born in Scotland but consider myself British.
Well done petrolprices for a candid piece that explores the likely impacts to motorists.
Please do keep thinking about this, and do post again if there’s more info or clarity to be had. Amongst your users are thoughtful people, as well as the, err, rest. The former are much less likely to post below the line of course, but we appreciate your efforts none the less!
@ Richard Nunn;
Your comment “Over the last 40 years I’ve been proved wrong.
Prices have gone up, jobs have gone down, and choice is limited to whatever the rest of Europe wants me to buy.” is so hilarious it’s unreal.
TV’s and white goods are cheaper than ever, there’s so many jobs the UK can’t fill all the vacancies and thanks to the internet there’s more choice than at any point in history. Complete fool.
You are too positive. The UK, hopefully excluding Scotland, has no chance of doing any sort of deal with the EU. After all what do they need RUK for? No E111, no unlimited imports, EU Visas, repatriation of all expats, another slump in the pound, etc., etc. . Theresa May will end up as the UK Prime Minister who finally abolished the ‘great’ from ‘Great’ Britain. Truly a historic catastrophe.
The EU enjoys a huge trade surplus with us and many jobs depend on our trade, investment and tourism. Sadly the unelected fanatics who control the EU do not care about people as is amply demonstrated by the appalling unemployment figures and failing banks (Including the leading German ones) European leaders have always demonstrated a total disdain for people, democracy and law. Bonaparte, Willhelm 11, Hitler all put their dream of a European Empire before humanity. The EU is the successor to those nightmares, determined at any cost to create the Empire. They ignored the French, Dutch and Irish referenda against the constitution and simply changed to the Lisbon treaty.
The UK has fought against European tyranny for hundreds of years Twice in the last century. It has cost us dear in blood and treasure. At the end of WW2 we worked hard to help Europe rebuild and were generous to the Germans. At the start of W.Germany the allies “Forced” them to accept democracy – a system foreign to them. Their debts were forgiven and the vast US aid they received was interest free (unlike ours). They have used these opportunities not to build a free society but to revert to type and create yet another state ruled by an elite for their benefit. Incidentally, I speak German, worked in Germany and most of my German friends are so appalled by the direction the EU is taking that they think my take is overly moderate.
You are simply yet another in a long line of sneering anti British propagandists. Your type has always been wrong and Europeans who believe in freedom and democracy have cause to be grateful that you were. The posturing by Tusk makes it obvious that the EU fanatics have learned nothing and view fear as the only cement for their union. How sad, and how sad that once again it has to be this country that provides hope and refuge for the unemployed whose countries people like you are trashing.
So many ostrich/sheep hybrids.
Still sticking their heads in the sand refusing to see the possible damage this is doing to our country.
All to willing to follow the ” it’ll be just like the good old days”.
Wake up people,the empire has gone and won’t be coming back.
The world has moved on and we are not the power we once were.
The euroshits are starting to show their hand now and want to punish up for pointing out what a shambles their playground is.But now we’re on the way out we’re just an insignificant little island off the coast of Europe. We have no chance of fighting back.
If we’d have stayed in,we could have fought them with their own rules and regulations,but from outside,forget it.
Keep believing that all these other countries are just gagging to do business with us,if it helps you sleep. But don’t be surprised if when Europe has finished kicking us in the nards,that the rest of the world tries copy them. We pissed off a lot of people over the centuries and they’ll want payback.
” ooh,I remember the good old days”
So do I,powercuts,three day weeks and pay,ineffective labour governments ruled by unions ( that ring any bells, Corbin and McCluskey?)
You people knocking PetrolPrices for pointing out what “could” happen need to educate yourselves before posting. The value of our currency dropped 20% when you voted to leave,it’s easy to see that could happen again,then you’ll all be begging PetrolPrices to show where the least expensive fuel is,because you won’t be able to afford to fill your cars up.Or you’ll have choose between petrol and your kids clothes or food.
With a bit of common sense and a little knowledge of the currency markets and a bit of imagination it’s easy to see that we could end up royally screwed.
If I hadn’t got kids and grandkids,I’d sit back and laugh at the sheep,because you deserve everything you get for being so short sighted.
Your story like so many others are purely hypothetical, no one knows for sure the short or long term effects. One thing for certain is that the UK is in the top five export destinations of almost every EU member state, so if they don’t want a trade ageement, many of them would face financial uncertainty, we can seek trading agreements globally, they would have to plug an enormous void if we stop trading with them. Better still why not do a Trump and stick a 50% import duty on the likes of BMW etc because the Germans for one shaking in their boots at the thought of anything that will damage their exports, remember they sell twice as much to us than we do to them.
Sadly we have voted to trash our currency and effectively self impose a tax on practically everything we buy as consumers whilst a few fat cat exporters may gain. A weak currency has never led to long term economic gain especially when foreign countries simply devalue their currency in response. Innovation and production efficiency is the true way to go…not devaluation. Territorially speaking, how sad that the British Empire has distilled into a little UK that is itself now threatening to break up. Putin must be delighted at events. And I also feel sorry for the Brits who hoped to retire in Spain because of the cheaper cost of living and lifestyle but whose plans are now in huge doubt. Amidst this Boris Johnson will hype up a lost leg as a marvellous opportunity to get a prosthetic.
Realistically, it is as much as in the interests of the EU as the UK to do a deal. What we are seeing at the moment is posturing from fundamentalist europhile politicians before formal negotiations begin. This is similar to the snarling and generally bad behaviour of boxers before a fight.
Even if the booze cruise is banned, who needs French wine anyway? South American wine is better and cheaper and may well get cheaper still, if we do a deal with them.
As far as cars and already overpriced spares go – it is a case of “If you don’t put a tariff on our production, we won’t put one on yours. If you do, we will match it!”
The worst aspect will be customs delays for goods at ports and masses of paper work (Remember bureaucracy is a french word in origin and they are world class at it!). Don’t expect much hindrance on people, they may actually look at your passport and even stamp it with a 3 month automatic visa, but this is no difference to going to the caribbean and a lot easier than the USA.
Since the EU have indicated that negotiations will not start for a month, it is best to close our ears to all the rubbish being put out by the media and carry on as normal!
This article is much too positive. On the flip side if we manage to engineer ourselves into conflict with our neighbours (likely) then all freedoms could be lost. Properties owned by Brits on the European mainland could be impounded whilst the 50 Billion plus exit bill remains disputed for starters. Wars have even started for less. Hell; what can of worms have you Brexiteers opened? Don’t you see, you haven’t created a fortress with your misguided and outdated nationalistic attitudes. You’ve created a prison for us all to rot inside.
Brexiteers call us Remainers .Remoaners !
Yet most of their posts are moan ,moan ,moan and more moaning !
All journalists who have an opinion are biased !
The BBC are biased !
Anyone who dares ,even neutral to write an honest article is biased !
So many feet in the graves !
And stop telling us to agree with you because we do not and never will !
See your smiling stop in a few years when it all goes wrong until then enjoy the show and keep posting each other !
Surely mention of the EHIC is irrelevant as it entitles a person to treatment as though they required that treatment in their home country; would anyone really travel anywhere in Europe without travel insurance as well?
I have’t stopped smiling since the day we won the referendum, maybe the remoaning, negative , hair shirt wearing , doom-mongering loser minority should stop talking Britain down and lighten up a bit there’s a great big world out there that can’t wait to do business with us, and us with them , without the constant interfering dead hand of the EU putting red tape and regulations in our way that costs our industry one hundred and twenty billion pounds a year to implement, which has to be passed on to consumers in higher costs, we now have the opportunity to take back control from those who do not have our best interests at heart and only want us as members so that they can screw us for even more money to enrich the beggar E.U nations that have taken the Euro as their currency.
Project fear all over again!!!
Now it is ‘ POST BREXIT PROJECT FEAR’. Thank goodness that at least more than half the country has some positive outlook for the future. If it wasn’t for us we would be in the dark ages still. How many millions of times have we done things that haven’t been done before – it is called ‘progress’. Instead of moaning, try doing something positive and do all we can to make us the envy of the UE and make Post Brexit eProject Fear another failure
The re moaners won’t do that, far too busy running Britain’s values down and opportunities in the wider world, It’s about time they stopped wearing their hair shirts and let the rest of Britain get on with the job of making Britain truly great again without the red tape and regulations imposed on us by the dead hand of the E.U