All eyes now turn to Brexit.

Switzerland is part of Schengen and the EEA- agree to free movement. How can you even begin to compare ?!?

Sorry EFTA and Schengen- and has FOP hence no border checks on people. And part of the EEU Terrorism sharing system.

I went to our local post office today and bought a large envelope type packaging to sent a small item to a child in U.K. - it is a prepaid thing and cost me €16 - vastly more than a few months ago.this is entirely to do with Brexit. I also need to fill in customs documents.
DD told me today that she has a parcel to send to me - I have told her not to send it but to wait until we manage to visit which hopefully may be in the Spring.
Luckily the French Govt have made it very easy for those who have resided here for 5 plus years to apply for a residents permit - it involves only three documents to be photographed and uploaded - ours was done within about ten minutes.
It is nothing like as easy for people less than five years or for those who are hoping to scrape in by the skin of their teeth before the end of December. The reason for the rush is that those resident before the end of the year retain their rights as EU citizens.

Whitewavemark2

Thanks maizie I should have referenced it but forgot.

Grim indeed.

Frankly I’m dreading the New Year as it paints such an awful picture.

Those Brits now living in the EU must be looking on with horror.

We are, as are the French, or at least those that we know.

We are, as are everyone we know all over the EU and beyond.

Well, we have now started stocking up our Brexit cupboard once again as Gove has told the Hauliers that instructions on the paperwork drivers will be required to have with them as they pass through the ports on January 1st will not be available until December 23rd.

Even he now concedes that there will be delays to trucks of up to two days, but it may only last a few weeks he recons. Forty percent of Britains fresh food passes through those ports every day, and he treats that situation with contempt.

A full report on this is currently featuring on sky news online.

“What’s the relevance of Switzerland - they are to all intents and purposes a member of the single market so not like us at all surely?l

Wrong.

All goods are subject to customs agreements, or in many cases disagreements. The Swiss have never made formal agreements in many areas, mainly because they have frequent referendums and progress cannot be made, it’s their system. The EU don't want the same long running wrangle with the U.K.

Travel for foreigners is more or less open, but you might get stopped, we were and questioned about currency, but it was only cursory. Another day we crossed from Italy to Germany with no checks.

Free travel between the U.K. and Ireland is already agreed, there is no reason why that cannot continue, at present there are checks, you are checked at the airport and the ferry to mainland U.K., I was stopped at Holyhead and passport checked (maybe I look dodgy).

I’m pretty confident that commercial goods will have to be checked but not people, as now there will be many that travel and take advantage of shopping that is cheaper on which ever side of the border.

It was noticeable that Sunak failed to mention Brexit in his short speech yesterday.

Whitewavemark2

It was noticeable that Sunak failed to mention Brexit in his short speech yesterday.

Covid has totally overshadowed Brexit

No I think it was a deliberate decision, given the leaked information.

A competent government would be making contingency plans.

Davidhs

Whitewavemark2

It was noticeable that Sunak failed to mention Brexit in his short speech yesterday.

Covid has totally overshadowed Brexit

Only on the surface- because they know it is a total mess and is going to cause so much damage in 100s of ways. They are using Covid as a cover for this, and also to eventually blame the looming disaster on Covid rather than their own total incompetence and mishandling of Brexit.

The Covid Crisis will continue to dominate peoples thoughts and the News headlines throughout the coming weeks as that is seen as the most immanent problem and the most dangerous to health and employment. Only should chaos at the ports begin effect supplies to the supermarket shelves will Brexit once again hit the headlines.

Due to Brexit and Covid we are now in the worst position I have seen in my lifetime. I feel so sorry for my DGC who are going to have to pay for this mess our generation has made.

Davidhs, Switzerland is part of EFTA and Schengen. I go across the Swiss/French border several times a week.

You just cannot compare crossing from NON EU country, non Schengen country to EU (like UK to Eire) - to crossing from EU/Schengen to EFTA/Schengen. It is nonsense.

Brexit will be more economically damaging than covid, particularly if no deal. But hey, we've taken back control and getting rid of all those foreigners.

October 2019 crossing by train from Turin to Paris the train stopped at the border for passports and customs checks. About 20 minutes. It's possible that they were looking for non EU passports but who knows.

I would have thought that more than 40% of the UK's food is imported during the winter months. Homegrown fresh produce - I can only think of root veg, brassica, apples and pears. I remember hearing a fruit and veg importer talking about food imports before the referendum. He said that before spring most of our stocks of fruit and veg will have been used up and there is usually a gap before homegrown produce appears again.

-3% GDP due to Covid. -5% GDP if we sign a Deal that imposes Customs. -7% with a No Deal.

so if they try and say the disaster is caused by Covid (or their terrible mis-handling of anyhow) - we will KNOW that is WRONG.

From Deborah Meaden

''Dear Rishi Sunak. Did you not mention Breit today because you don't understand the HUGE and negative impact on the Economy

or because you DO and they are TOO HUGE and negative to even start to explain''

(personally I'd guess the latter)

Brexit, of course.

Dominic Raab today, again stating the prediction for the British Economy are dire due to Covid

NO Mr Raab, Covid is a factor - a minor one compared to Brexit- we will NOT be fooled.

Raab must think we're stupid. The economies of all EU countries will be hit because of covid so in effect it's a level playing field. The other countries, however, will improve their economies much more quickly than the UK.

Dinahmo

Raab must think we're stupid. The economies of all EU countries will be hit because of covid so in effect it's a level playing field. The other countries, however, will improve their economies much more quickly than the UK.

Yes, I’ve just been watching CNN, and that is the opinion on there. The powerful EU has the economies of scale to climb out of the downturn much quicker and successfully than the U.K.

They will stick together and support each other - and will get the support from Bidden and many others.

biba70

Davidhs, Switzerland is part of EFTA and Schengen. I go across the Swiss/French border several times a week.

You just cannot compare crossing from NON EU country, non Schengen country to EU (like UK to Eire) - to crossing from EU/Schengen to EFTA/Schengen. It is nonsense.

I stand corrected Switzerland is an EFTA country but not part of the European Economic Area the government wanted to join, a referendum did not agree. They are Schengen and adhere to the four freedoms despite a referendum voting against that.

There is going to have to be a practical solution in Ireland in 5 weeks time perhaps you could suggest what it might be.