Watching the Prime Minister yesterday evening on Sky News, as you can above in the video clip, reminded me of a conversation with a friend, where we reflected on a person we both know and his ability to make proclamations ludicrously out of kilter with reality.
Not an uncommon trait and we all know at least one person that fits this description.
The statements made quite often are simply bluster, and as such validate the phrase ’empty vessels make most noise’.
When you see the Prime Minister acting like this you do wonder how he ever got the job. Instead of acting in the best interests of the UK, he makes light of impending further economic damage and disruption.
The PM on his visit to a factory in Blyth, Northumberland was in surprisingly high spirits about the prospect of a no deal Brexit. During the interview he smiled and said if there was no deal, the situation would still be “wonderful for the UK”, adding somewhat childishly we can “do exactly what we want from 1 January”. Can we indeed.
He may act as if he believes he can do exactly what he wants, but businesses and jobs will pay the price for his frivolous disregard of both.
One consequence of the ever more likely no deal Brexit is that construction of the 66 acre lorry park in Ashford Kent has now moved to a 24 hour non-stop working schedule until the project is complete. The Government financed project clearly anticipates large scale disruption despite denials of any such thing.
For hospitality businesses all over the UK that are reliant on EU supply chains, in both directions, the movement of goods will be subjected to delays. For fresh produce this clearly is untenable and alongside existing delays at ports already impacted by Covid compounds existing difficulties.
In anticipation of delays, shortages, and price increases many importers of wine have tried to stockpile. The difficulties around this tactic are many and wine importers are reporting increased prices from suppliers caused by the false demand created by stockpiling.
If a deal had been made wine prices were already planned to rise by circa 7-14 pence a bottle through a new import duty, plus new additional administrative charges from suppliers of 6-8 pence a bottle. With no deal prices are expected to rise even further.
We spoke with a wine importer that did not want to be named who told us that his French suppliers had warned him of the consequences of a no deal Brexit in explicit terms. He said he had been told by more than one of his suppliers that French customs officials had been ‘encouraged to delay UK transport’ and would be ‘exempt from any consequences of doing so’. It seems emotions are running high and being given advance license to vent. You would not have to cast your mind back too far to remember what port blockades in France look like and the subsequent difficulties experienced from them.
The situation from many angles looks likely to deliver more angst to an already battered UK economy, but take cheer from the PM’s comments, despite everything all will be “wonderful for the UK”.
EU issues statement outlining their preparedness for a no deal Brexit
News from the hospitality and catering industry is also being featured extensively in our Facebook and twitter social media accounts with the opportunity to engage with others in hospitality and share your views.
Hospitality & Catering News: PM declares that No Deal Brexit is now “wonderful for the UK” – 12 December 2020 – PM declares that No Deal Brexit is now “wonderful for the UK”.
Copyright: All content in Hospitality & Catering News is protected by copyright.