Brexit is fast becoming a disaster

80% of UK businesses say brexit will cause long term damage to the UK

inews.co.uk/news/business/business-brexit-eu-long-term-negative-uk-economy-blick-rothenberg-poll-1097920/amp#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16261144110358&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

"Many people and communities are really struggling from the dual impact of this hard Brexit and the Covid crisis.

Musicians have been unable to tour for over a year, and post-Brexit rules could drive many out of the profession for good. Many EU citizens who have made the UK their home, started families here, and given so much to our country – like those on the frontline of the NHS – face the prospect of deportation. Students, whose best years have been stuck inside, are unable to learn, travel, and expand their horizons as they once were.

Two weeks ago, we wrote to the Prime Minister to plead urgent action. We shared the stories of people affected. We asked the government to take seriously the damage their hard Brexit dogma is inflicting and to reduce some of the unnecessary hardship created by their deal[1].

In his response, Lord Frost not only refused to consider the sensible and pragmatic solutions that I and my fellow signatories suggested. He boasted that "people were waking up to the opportunities of leaving the EU"[2]! That's not what the farmers, fishers, teachers, and community leaders would say. It’s not what the people of Northern Ireland would say either.

The toxic cocktail of complacency and delusion we find in his letter is characteristic of this government. But their lies won’t stick forever. Brexit isn’t working, and over time it is becoming increasingly obvious that the government will have to change course, to protect peace and our economic interests. "

The European Movement

www.europeanmovement.co.uk/still_european_2021/?amount=5&utm_campaign=frost_letter_supporters&utm_medium=email&utm_source=euromove

I’m not sure changing course is on the cards because it’s the EU that is running the show. Any regulations will be EU regulations which would then exclude any third country deals that conficted.
Are we really going to reinstate freedom of movement and rejoin the EU VAT system, maybe a Labour government would but not much hope of that.

Mamie

You say that the residency process is similarly difficult for UK citizens in Europe, but that is not entirely true Lin52.
Here in France the process for residency has been simple (especially by French standards where paperwork is notoriously complex). The online application took 15 minutes, the visit to the Préfecture was efficient and pleasant and the cards arrived promptly. Comments on forums report a similar picture across France. My son in Spain had no problems getting his card and I have not heard of major difficulties in other European countries.

But to gain French nationality, which I needed to be secure, took me from the Brexit vote until just before Christmas last year because of the bureaucratic mess up they made over one word.

Oh I know. Nationality is a much more tortuous process isn't it. We thought about it, but our first Cartes de Séjour experience was a bit of a nightmare, so we stuck with residency. The WARP ones were a breeze by comparison.

The cost of Brexit so far compared with the budget for "levelling up"

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/europe-news/brexit-costs-38-times-more-levelling-up-8152576

Dominic Cummings finally admits what all the well informed voters knew

www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/07/dominic-cummings-has-admitted-leave-campaign-won-lying-we-should-never-forgive-him

Many young UK residents in France and other EU are applying for nationality, because they want the option of being EU and have the freedom to travel and go and work in other parts of EU- and also because they are very unhappy about what is happening with Brexit.

Kali2 I think that now the UK is out of the EU people could apply for dual nationality which wasn't possible whilst we were still members. It would be a good idea for young people in order to ensure their freedom of movement.

Everyone I know who is entitled to apply for a second passport from an EU country has done so or is in the process of doing so. Irish passports are very popular.

It so annoys me when brexit supporters are entitled to have Irish passports though

Dinahmo you could have dual nationality in France before Brexit. I know people who got it. You can't in Spain though. They are not EU rules.

And so many of these brexit hypocriptes, such as Nigel Lawson and Andrew Neil , chose to live in France.

Dinahmo

Kali2 I think that now the UK is out of the EU people could apply for dual nationality which wasn't possible whilst we were still members. It would be a good idea for young people in order to ensure their freedom of movement.

It has been allowed in France and many other EU countries for a very long time- nowt to do with Brexit.

My DS is about to become Spanish.

You do realise it’s possible to love Europe and have a second/holiday home on mainland Europe whilst not being a fan of the EU and all it has become?

I think most young UK citizens in EU would prefer the option of double nationality- but if not, as they want to fe fully integrated and safe, and know they will never return to UK- will opt for the nationality of where they are making their life.

Mind you I know many Americans who have done the same, but in order to avoid double taxation.

Mamie

Dinahmo you could have dual nationality in France before Brexit. I know people who got it. You can't in Spain though. They are not EU rules.

Thank you. I was told by some people living here that they couldn't apply when the UK was in the EU. They applied after the UK left and got residency.

Depends on the individual country.

For France, dual citizenship was officially recognized for both men and women on 9 January 1973; since then, possession of more than one nationality does not affect French nationality.

Residency and nationality are 2 very separate and different things.

Kali2

Residency and nationality are 2 very separate and different things.

I know and I typed the wrong word. I'm resident in France but haven't applied for nationality. My friends did.

Got it- we all make typos/mistakes- I was just surprised.

I think a lot of people are not aware of that fact GG13 !!

But it puzzles some of us that those people are happy to make it more difficult for people to live work holiday and study in Europe.

Every Friday evening we meet up with a group of French friends a the local bar and the events in Britain are often a topic of conversation. Several of them have lived and worked in the UK when they were younger. In the same way that British students went grape picking, at least one of them came over to England and picked strawberries. They are genuinely saddened by current events.