Two years ago, when the ‘Brexit’ trade deal was finally reached, then British Prime Minister Johnson announced that the UK would be free to make trade deals around the world, while still owning the market for EU. Today, two years have passed since Britain officially “Brexit” from the European Union, but British society, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are still grappling with the “aftershock” after the “Brexit”.
Simon Spurrell runs a dairy farm in Cheshire in North West England and conducts online wholesale and retail businesses in mainland Europe. After ‘Brexit’, he has to supply a health certificate for every order, and the cost of each certificate goes up to £180, even those orders that only sell for £20 or £30.
Two years after Brexit, UK SME owners struggle with ‘aftershocks’
Simon Sperrell, manager of the Cheshire Cheese Factory in the UK: No one is going to spend the extra £180 and there’s more paperwork.
Two years after ‘Brexit’, Sperel’s wholesale and retail business lost a total of nearly £600,000. To keep customers in continental Europe, it had to sell most of the shares of the dairy to competitors with distribution centers in continental Europe.
Simon Sperrell, manager of the Cheshire Cheese Factory in the UK: I feel betrayed, I am so disappointed in the government, they have promised a lot, but nothing has been delivered.
Ron Jones was in the business of importing carpets from Belgium. Because of “Brexit”, his business is more difficult.
Two years after Brexit, UK SME owners struggle with ‘aftershocks’
British retail owner Ron Jones: (“Brexit”) was never a good idea, never a good idea, but people wanted “Brexit”.
A growing body of research shows that post-Brexit trade barriers are hurting the UK economy. Restrictions on population movement have reduced the workforce from mainland Europe, leaving the UK facing labor shortages in sectors such as healthcare, service industry and agriculture.
Two years after Brexit, UK SME owners struggle with ‘aftershocks’
British people: This is a total disaster, an absolute disaster.
Expert interpretation: ‘Brexit’ has become a magnifying glass for Britain’s many contradictions
Looking back over the past two years, is ‘Brexit’ a blessing or a curse for the UK? Is it possible for the British government to “go back”? We listen to expert interpretation on international issues.
Professor Wang Shuo, School of International Relations, Beijing Foreign Studies University: Britain has indeed not had a good life in recent years. On the one hand, there are reasons for the general environment and on the other hand, there are also some reasons unique to the problems in the UK. The impact of the new corona epidemic is still ongoing, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is unlikely to be resolved, energy prices have caused high inflation, and the economy is in decline. Ordinary people in the UK, especially the middle and lower classes, were greatly affected. Many demonstrations are actually a kind of outlet for people’s dissatisfaction with reality. With the chaos of “Brexit”, the country and British society have fallen into a highly torn state. For example, the issue of Northern Ireland (Ireland) is causing a stir again; Scotland has also said it will hold an independence referendum again. Externally, although the UK says it wants to embrace globalization better, its relationship with nobody is very good. It can be said that “Brexit” should be a magnifying glass and a kaleidoscope for all the contradictory issues in the UK.
Two years after Brexit, UK SME owners struggle with ‘aftershocks’
Wang Shuo, professor at the School of International Relations of Beijing Foreign Studies University: There are so many consequences of “Brexit”, many people have wondered whether they can go back, and have also made such a request. But in practice, it is still very difficult to achieve. First of all, ‘Brexit’ is a politically correct issue for the Conservative Party, and the Conservative Party has to admit that ‘Brexit’ is correct. At least for now, it appears that the end of 2024 is the time for a Conservative government. And even if the Labor Party emerges, not much will change. Because the issue of UK-EU relations has become a tool of struggle between political parties and factions. So even if you roll again, the result is not easy to tell. And it must be another big shock and tear for the country.
