Cpcmcredit Blog

I would generally hesitate to link to the Guardian on any subject surrounding Brexit but this piece gives a balanced clear assessment of the current status of EU border controls for “perishable” goods

The key issue here is that the imposition of border checks into the uk are about to commence. The impact and cost to major importers is probably not significant. There will be a marginal cost to consumers but for SMEs the whole issue is going to hit a lot harder

The cost is not just in financial terms but also, of course, the tiresome business of paperwork. The justification from government ministers had been given as protection from various viruses and infections which supposedly occur within the EU. Fine but does anyone recall this as an issue during the proceeding fifty years?

There is of course an element of tit for tat and our exporters are having too live with fussy border checks (there were initially some seriously petty examples) and maybe turning the table will encourage a review of the whole process?

A process which to my mind is pointless and faintly ridiculous. If the “checks” haven’t thrown up any serious issues for decades, then why are they required now? Just to make political points (from both sides) about Brexit?

For SMEs the costs are not pretty and you wonder why the government really believe these are necessary. Perhaps they should be gearing the costing structure towards larger transactions only and aiming to support small businesses. Isn’t that what the Conservative party was once about?

There is of course the “protectionist” argument whereby uk farmers and food producers are shielded from EU “competition” but the loser in such instances is the consumer of course. From a personal point of view, I want to see as much choice as possible (especially having tasted superb French bred chickens within the last week)

There will of course be the screeching from those who scream about any positive contact with the EU and also those who are determined to prove that Brexit is one big historical mistake (one “historian” has called it the biggest “tragedy” for Britain within the last 2000 years. More so that two world wars, the plague, the black death and so on…).

We are where we are. We do not need to squabble with our neighbours and we should build a mature relationship. In fairness too Sunak and Hunt there have been significant efforts to do so (near enough impossible under their three predecessors) and under the next administration we should expect the same but whoever is responsible needs to get the heads banging together to bring an end to this administrative anti trade and business nonsense