Not so tall
I went to the House of Commons for the first time in years on Wednesday and saw Jacob Rees-Mogg in a corridor. My first thought was that he is not as tall as I expected.
Then, just yesterday, Mr. Rees-Mogg had the job of explaining why import controls into the UK have been delayed for the 4th time. Apparently it would have been “an act of self harm” to introduce them and delaying them until the end of 2023 will save business £1b.
To be clear, this means it has always been and will always be an act of self harm to introduce these totally unnecessary checks, which his government insisted on in its Brexit negotiations.
They will cost industry £1b a year, force up food prices, create delays and disadvantage British farmers.
We have now heard that from the horse’s mouth; one of the campaigners for this mess who said Brexit would mean cheaper food and the best border in the world.
You would be hard pressed to realise this from the Brexiteers themselves, who now claim border checks were never necessary or even their idea.
But Mr. Rees-Mogg is looking even shorter this morning, his stature reduced yet again by Brexit.
If only that was the only damage.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.