I know I shouldn't chuckle at your cynicism Jonty but we can all wry smile a bit.
The amount of change being implemented by leaving the EU is large, the banana skins are careful placed by the French and so the figures aren't a surprise.
We had throughout 2016 "Were all doomed, doomed I say doomed" so these figure bear out the level of strategic change taking place. The Free ports will take on an increasing importance and the focus change to competing on the World Stage too. The pandemic at the same time is unhelpful so no one can truly see the full extent of the EU trade collapse (long term yet). I think it will come back a bit we will see. Why hide it and pretend it wasn't going to happen? It was only a question of magnitude and when. If we have extra stocks of virus jab using it strategically to help customer countries to recover their economies is in our own self interest.
I know I shouldn't chuckle at your cynicism Jonty but we can all wry smile a bit.
The amount of change being implemented by leaving the EU is large, the banana skins are careful placed by the French and so the figures aren't a surprise.
We had throughout 2016 "Were all doomed, doomed I say doomed" so these figure bear out the level of strategic change taking place. The Free ports will take on an increasing importance and the focus change to competing on the World Stage too. The pandemic at the same time is unhelpful so no one can truly see the full extent of the EU trade collapse (long term yet). I think it will come back a bit we will see. Why hide it and pretend it wasn't going to happen? It was only a question of magnitude and when. If we have extra stocks of virus jab using it strategically to help customer countries to recover their economies is in our own self interest.