Recent developments in the UK have brought to light the consequences of Brexit, particularly with the implementation of new import checks that are testing Britain's supply chains. Critics have pointed out the 'political imbecility' of Brexit, highlighting claims by Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg about food being cheaper and the existence of an 'oven-ready' deal. However, UK businesses are now facing increased complexity and costs in trading with the EU, with an average expenditure of £100,000 navigating the post-Brexit customs border over the past three years. An Ipsos poll for the Evening Standard has revealed that 57% of the public views Brexit as more of a failure than a success, with seven in ten Britons believing it has negatively impacted the economy, which has also been affected by the unprecedented Covid pandemic and Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine war. Dame Andrea Leadsom, a pro-Brexit figure and former Business Secretary, has commented that businesses are accustomed to the costs of doing business and should adapt to the new checks on food and plant imports. She also claims that the implications of leaving the single market were always known. Despite the government acknowledging that new Brexit checks will cost businesses an extra £330 million a year and Leadsom's previous assurance of £350 million a week to the NHS, she remains convinced of the benefits of Brexit, even as others accuse her of gaslighting by changing her narrative from her pre-referendum stance.
Andrea Leadsom (Vote Leave Committee): We all knew Brexit would damage our food supplies. Vote Leave 2016: It is absurd to say Brexit would create trade barriers. @AndreaLeadsom 2013: "Brexit would be a complete disaster!" THIS IS UTTER GASLIGHTING! https://t.co/dqgQz7NXz8
Andrea Leadsom this morning: “Businesses knew at the time of Brexit that in leaving the European single market there would be additional checks at the border - there was no surprise about that.” Textbook gaslighting. https://t.co/V59EvlEVYr
Tory Andrea Leadsom dismisses increased food cost fears as 'price you pay' for Brexit https://t.co/bY3dZtWxOi https://t.co/pyRHe5AGm7
Top Tory dismisses fears on increased food costs as 'price you pay' for Brexit - as 7 in 10 Brits think Brexit has damaged economy https://t.co/739Ce4eL5x
Only 13% of Britons think Brexit has been a success, poll suggests - https://t.co/2hbRowCqfX
Andrea Leadsom extolling the benefits of Brexit gets a much-needed @PeterStefanovi2 intervention. Thank the lord we have someone to set these truth twisters straight! https://t.co/2kXUtJwTK6
2016: Michael Gove, "We would have access to the EU Single Market by being in a free trade zone" 2024: Andrea Leadsom, "Leaving the EU Single Market means increased checks at the borders.. That was known about since 2016" https://t.co/Y16Q9pGdTq
Dame Andrea Leadsom said she is ‘convinced’ by the benefits of Brexit despite warnings of higher food prices and reduced choice https://t.co/pS96mvDaGC
And here is Leadsom, in June 2016, just before the referendum, insisting that UK businesses would have exactly the same access to the single market after #Brexit. Now she says "everyone always knew this was going to happen". ~AA https://t.co/bwg6HpX4xV https://t.co/J6aeICX2CF
Andrea Leadsom car crash on #Brexit. Same lies about "new deals" or "great opportunities" - WHERE ARE THEY? - but asked about a florist struggling with new checks: "Businesses are used to the cost of doing business. There are many parts of the UK that are flower growers." 👀~AA https://t.co/5AWMWcsOC4
Leadsom claims it was clear businesses would face higher costs during the referendum. In reality, people like her repeatedly claimed otherwise. https://t.co/5RWvw7ZTV8
“The NHS has had considerably more than an additional £350million a week." On its fourth anniversary, Andrea Leadsom tells @NickFerrariLBC that she is “hugely delighted” with how Brexit is going. https://t.co/XlGsATJMbH
Seven in ten Britons now believe that Brexit has had a negative impact on the current state of the economy which has also been rocked by the unprecedented Covid pandemic and Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine war, @IpsosUK poll https://t.co/rHdnbQDBW8
Andrea Leadsom's message to firms concerned about increased post-Brexit border checks from today. "Businesses knew at the time of Brexit that in leaving the European single market there would be additional checks at the border." 🤔 https://t.co/XSelityTDN
#KayBurley: The govt has acknowledged that new brexit checks are going to cost businesses an extra £330m a year? Andrea Leadsom: There are big opportunities from free trade deals.. KB: A florist can't afford the checks AL: Leaving the SM was always going to have implications https://t.co/McFu0HYWRF
"Businesses are used to the costs of doing business" Dame @andrealeadsom MP tells @KayBurley businesses need to "adapt" to leaving the EU single market and the rising cost of checks on food and plant imports as a result of Brexit. https://t.co/0GwBDz6IMY 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/tbKwUcKIKG
Andrea Leadsom, Brexiteer & former Business Sec on customs controls for EU imputes: "Business has always faced costs & they knew at the time of leaving the EU they would be leaving the single market & there would be costs, there's nothing new about that"
Andrea Leadsom on the extra border checks on goods kicking in because of Brexit: "Businesses are used to the cost of doing business."
57% believe Brexit has been more of a failure than a success, according to exclusive Ipsos poll for the Standard https://t.co/ElBn5uKzeH
Remember the Tories claiming: - food would be cheaper - they had an oven-ready deal - they ‘got Brexit done’ More lies. And more costs to Brits. https://t.co/Y6kGCDa4UZ
'Boris Johnson told you that he had an oven-ready deal and that he'd got Brexit done, and we're now seeing the consequences of his deal.' @mrjamesob lays bare some of the ramifications of leaving the EU, as UK importers brace for new checks on food. https://t.co/IAnLxjc2Vt
'They've taken the words of a proven liar like Boris Johnson...and a proven idiot like Jacob Rees-Mogg.' 'He categorically told us that food will be cheaper.' @mrjamesob highlights the 'political imbecility' of Brexit, with new import checks set to test Britain's supply chains. https://t.co/tTgCx1qIP6
🚨🚨UK biz have experienced a stark increase in the complexity & cost of trading with the EU since #brexit, spending an average of £100,000 navigating the post-Brexit customs border over the past three years. #brexitreality via @EmmaAgyemang & @pmdfoster. https://t.co/cAmqPbTyxD