There's one thing the gov't can do, at the stroke of a pen, to improve our prospects: request an extension to the Brexit transition period.
Our economy, facing a 20% coronavirus contraction, does not need a 7-10% no-deal drop on top, nor our public finances extra borrowing. ~AA
Our economy, facing a 20% coronavirus contraction, does not need a 7-10% no-deal drop on top, nor our public finances extra borrowing. ~AA
There's clear public support for requesting a Brexit extension and focussing our whole energy on fighting #Covid19 and saving lives. In mid-March 55% of the British public supported an extension. By mid-April that had jumped to two-thirds. We are nothing, if not practical. ~AA
Much public sector staff has been redeployed, domestically and in Europe, from Brexit preparation to Coronavirus crisis managements. It makes no sense for departments facing the dual challenge of saving lives and reopening the economy to have a dual focus. Nor for businesses. ~AA
Nor can it be sensible or conducive to a good deal for the UK to demand EU leaders - especially in Italy, Spain or France - switch their focus from battling a deadly pandemic, to thinking about fishing quotas and tariffs. Brexit should not be the top of anyone's agenda. ~AA
By locking us down, coronavirus has paused everything - politics, business, travel, sport; millions of lives all around the world.
Brexit cannot be the one clock that keeps ticking, regardless.
The argument for requesting an extension to the transition is now irresistible. ~AA
Brexit cannot be the one clock that keeps ticking, regardless.
The argument for requesting an extension to the transition is now irresistible. ~AA
