Nimble footed? What us?
The latest delay in the introduction of proper checks on food and produce entering the UK is due to be announced any second now. This will be the fifth postponement of checks which are vital to keep dodgy, dangerous food out of the country and to protect agriculture from foot and mouth and several other devastating diseases.
But once again, the red tape is not ready, the infrastructure not yet built, the testing system not up and running, the inflationary costs too much to bear, the supply chains too feeble to cope, and the government completely incapable of creating a working organisation that should have been up and running 2 years ago.
Strangely the totally incompetent rule bound French, Dutch, Belgians etc have been fine since day one, their systems and checks have been up and running for years. But the lean and mean Brits, free at last from the dead hand of EU bureaucracy, able to create rules and regs slim-lined and specifically designed to boost Britain, well, not so much.
Besides the admission that food prices will soar and the danger of importing putrid food and massively expensive and disruptive animal diseases, the massive British food industry is competing with one hand tied behind its back.
EU food producers export to the UK check free, UK exporters pay for tests.
A costly, dangerous, embarrassing national humiliation, again.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
By Jonty Bloom Media