Twenty-five months ago – after years of rancor public debate and political deadlock – the UK left the EU. In this week’s poll, we ask whether UK manufacturers and engineers have seen any of the promised red tape, export-boosting benefits†
When calls were made to leave the EU in 2016, the UK’s tech community, it seems, was as divided as the rest of the country, with just over half of the 1,400 respondents to our June 2016 poll on the subject who told us they would vote to stay. Judging by the responses to our periodic return to the issue over the past few years, many of these divisions persist.
However, now that more than two years have passed since the UK’s official exit from the world’s largest trading bloc, it seems prudent to ask the question again. Especially given that some of those sectors most enticed by the promises of the leave campaign (agriculture and fisheries to name just two) are now facing a potentially terminal export and labor shortage crisis directly linked to that fateful decision .
In this week’s poll, we ask if you think Brexit has delivered any of the benefits promised by its cheerleaders, and specifically what it has meant for the industry?
Maybe you think it’s too early to say? After all, for 12 of the past 24 months, the UK has remained part of the Single Market and Customs Union. Perhaps the devastating economic impact of the pandemic makes it difficult to estimate? Or maybe you’ve already noticed obvious improvements or issues as a result of that referendum vote in June 2016. Anyway, let us know and help us build a picture of how UK engineering and manufacturing thinks about this issue as the dust kicks in to settle down.
Please cast your vote, and as always feel free to expand your comment in the comments section below. All comments are moderated.
