Thread by @vivamjm

I note there have been many opinions that business has had "plenty of time" to adjust for a life outside the SM/CU...putting aside the ignorance of some not appreciating what would be needed/how things would adversely change regardless of the "Canada style"/any FTA deal ...1/

including incredibly & inexcusably the acute ignorance from the Chairman of @marksandspencer ..
consider this: for life outside the SM/CU the UK needed an extra 50,000 customs agents (Gov accepted figure); approx 5,000 customs officers; approx 2,000 vets/health inspectors & ..2/

of course the now well documented tens of thousands of HGV drivers
None of these were *needed* until day 1 out of the SM/CU...they were all redundant until then. Market forces dictated that no business would've invested heavily here while still operating as part of the SM/CU..3/

as recruiting, training & paying workers with work done less competitively & (customs agents) no work to be done at all, would have disadvantaged the business against competitors in the market forces, consumer led market. .. 4/

Up until Dec.2019 all political outcomes were still in play including theoretically revoking art 50. Any business that invested in a share of the drivers/customs agents etc for day 1 out of the SM/CU (considering how many times delayed) would probably have struggled to survive 5/

From Jan. 2020 it was clear the UK Gov was recklessly going to pursue no SM/CU regardless of the consequences; but at the same time itself did not signal any urgency in doing what *it* needed to do in the now necessary infrastructure/port expansions/ICDs/customs officers etc 6/

Instead it spoke only of "opportunities" ! Then Covid rolled in. For myself & others industry related it was now clear it'd be *impossible* for GB (not just NI) to be ready for life outside the SM/CU on 1/1/21. Not extending transition criminally negligent if not simply criminal