Michael Gove is under fire as the UK’s EU exports plummet – 11 unsurprised reactions
One of the abiding themes of the pre-referendum messaging was the idea that the UK would be able to trade more easily with non-EU countries, while having no loss of access to the EU.
Let’s never forget this, eh? pic.twitter.com/0CrzgBcHIM
— Sue Perkins 💙 (@sueperkins) February 4, 2021
Well, guess what …
Fury at Gove as exports to EU slashed by 68% since Brexit | Brexit | The Guardian https://t.co/TYsl7fSt00
— Hugh Grant 💙 (@HackedOffHugh) February 6, 2021
Although the drop in business was reported to Michael Gove in urgent terms a week ago, after contacting him several times previously, he has so far failed to address the issue.
The problems have been described by ministers as teething troubles, but unless there’s a rapid renegotiation, they’re a lot closer to the UK’s teeth having been extracted down a back alley by a guy with rusty pliers and no anaesthetic.
Jim Pickard of the Financial Times used the reserved description “staggering”.
a staggering statistic even in the circumstances pic.twitter.com/9VFW3zmulZ
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) February 6, 2021
These other people were no less staggered.
1.
The Promise The Reality pic.twitter.com/JoG2eOzYlm
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) February 7, 2021
2.
Gove: ‘I think the people of this country have had enough of exports’ pic.twitter.com/mNhNA79J9I
— Andrea Catherwood (@acatherwoodnews) February 6, 2021
3.
Exports to EU down 68%.
And import checks still to come.
The only time Boris Johnson has ever been honest is when he said “fuck business”. pic.twitter.com/nEwpHDcLp6
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) February 6, 2021
4.
Fury at British firms as they show 68% less belief in their exports to the EU since Brexit pic.twitter.com/10fG0zm6Da
— 🏳️🌈 Max 🏳️🌈 (@SpillerOfTea) February 7, 2021
5.
Stories that should lead the news but won’t ….. Fury at Gove as exports to EU slashed by 68% since Brexit | Brexit | The Guardian https://t.co/JA2R9gAQLG
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) February 7, 2021
6.
How long will it take for the anger directed at those who warned of the impact of a hard Brexit to be directed instead at those who conned people into voting for it in the first place? https://t.co/FMdVEaUQ0h
— Dr Phillip Lee 🔶 (@DrPhillipLee) February 7, 2021
7.
Whether it’s “experts” or “exports” – we clearly need more of both. And far, far, far less of Gove. https://t.co/XFItcLJNdG
— Seb Dance 🌹🇪🇺 (@SebDance) February 7, 2021
8.
maybe we could export Michael Gove?
— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) February 7, 2021
9.
I am so tired of doing my surprised face. https://t.co/gz6Nc4sAIn
— Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) February 6, 2021
10.
Well, I suppose that’s one way of cutting down that red tape…https://t.co/92mRSN4OnR
— Marina Purkiss (@MarinaNigrelli) February 7, 2021
11.
Carbon reduction programme off to a good start I see… https://t.co/pOioeGgWD4
— Tom Sutcliffe (@tds153) February 6, 2021
As ever, Professor Brian Cox had a promising idea.
I wonder if the way to attack this politically is to stop associating the chaos with Brexit as a concept, which gives government political cover – will of the people etc. Just say it’s a catastrophic failure of trade policy for which Johnson and Gove are personally responsible. https://t.co/dJUjO9wEYu
— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) February 7, 2021
Accountable politicians, you say? Intriguing.
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Boris Johnson just accidentally described Brexit and he’s never been more right
Source Guardian Image Pat Whelen and Olia Naydar on Unsplash
