[syhprum]

We have enough to eat because we can import it with the aid of money made by banking and arms sales, during our most recent war with Germany we were hard put to grow enough to feed ourselves and had to resort to a lot of amateur farming, it will probably be the same again if this "Brexit" nonsense comes to pass.

[alancalverd]

The UK actually grows about 60% of the food we eat, and exports almost the remainder. Whatever the source of income, remarkably little of our imported food is of EU origin - well over half comes from further afield. The idea that the Spanish will suddenly stop selling us lettuce, or the Danes will stop exporting bacon on 1 November, is as absurd as the belief that we didn't import these things before we joined the EU.

[Bored chemist]

The points are that lettuce held up for a week at Dover for customs checks isn't quite the same thing, and the EU's tariffs will also make it more expensive.
So, much less of a problem for the wealthy- hard luck if you are already struggling.
Typical Tory policy.

[alancalverd]

There is no reason why lettuce crossing the border at Dover should be held up any longer than lettuce crossing the border at Geneva or Kenyan beans entering the country through East Midlands airport. Every road consignment is already  scrutinised for stowaways and contraband, and not everything passing through Dover originated in the EU anyway. The EU does not impose export tariffs on food - stuff should if anything be cheaper as it will have to compete with world prices.

The fuss about an Irish border is equally ridiculous. For the last 50 years there have been different laws, currencies, rates of VAT, fuel duty and income tax on either side of the border. No problem, and the free circulation of people predates the EU.

I've been shipping urgent hardware and short-lived radioactive pharmaceuticals all over the world for the last 20 years (with very little EU business - too expensive!) The answer, then, now and for ever, is to do  the business, deliver the goods, and let the accountants sort out the paperwork later. 

[evan_au]

Gentlemen, Gentlemen!

BREXIT is not science; whether it will be A Good Thing for the UK and/or Ireland and/or Europe will have to wait until the results of the experiment become available. And then politicians on both sides of the debate will say "I told you so!".
 
Please keep BREXIT in "Just Chat!".