fabindia wrote: ↑12 Dec 2020, 10:06
As a result, come 2021 we may well have no French wine or cheese, no soft fruits and lemons from Spain, no Danish bacon or German sausages and beer.
Even in a no-deal Brexit, we can still import goods from countries in the EU but they will be more expensive because of the tariffs. And even non-EU countries sell foods that we are familiar with - if anything, the UK being out of the EU may well open up new trading agreements that were not possible before. The problem with the news media is that they are selective about what the UK will be missing out of rather than the gains (no, I'm not a Brexiteer but I refuse to feel doomed by the decision made by a slim majority in that referendum)
fabindia wrote: ↑12 Dec 2020, 10:06
at the same time the British navy is readying war ships to fight off foreign fishing boats.
Again, trying not to get too political about this but I think the EU have a lot more to lose if the UK waters are no longer accessible to EU fishing boats. That's why the deal is stuck at this late hour - they need our fish more than we do. We don't know all the ins and outs of what is in the deal but I am in no doubt that collectively, the EU member countries are using bullying tactics of take it or leave it. The fact that some heads of state are already saying that a deal is unlikely has more to do with making the UK feel frightened of the consequences of not having one. As far as I'm concerned, we will adapt - traders will turn to other sources like they always have and we will be introduced to different things.
Mo wrote: ↑12 Dec 2020, 11:56
Trouble is British agriculture suffered from being in the EU
Now that I agree with - even down to what varieties we can or cannot grow, and setting high standards which have resulted in a wasteful society (oh, it isn't straight or the right size so bin it - with each new generation, they have become less able to see that a crooked carrot tastes exactly like a straight one!)
Mo wrote: ↑12 Dec 2020, 11:56
Cheshire used to be a dairying county. Now there are more horses in the fields. Though that may change too if farmers can't get a payment just for having land used for equestrian.
Yes, it's a bit of an unknown, especially as it was announced there would be less beef and sheep farming in the UK to fight climate change (less methane production and reducing red meat in the diet) though pig and chicken production should go up. What will likely happen is that the UK will probably import more of the meat from countries with lower welfare standards.