As many speculated, Brexit has caused quite a stir of late.
One of those problems that infuriates British citizens is the clear lack of products on store shelves and the worrying shortage of truck drivers, among a host of other services that are feeling the pressure. But is Brexit really to blame for this ongoing problem or is it something else?
There is no doubt that the pandemic has disrupted a selection of moving parts that keep the British economy going, but it is difficult to determine if it is to blame for the labor and product shortages that people have to endure. The recent crisis hasn’t stopped people from questioning Brexit, though the odds of a Brexit reversal are slim. The fact is that the country has to adapt to the changes it faces. Initial troubles were unavoidable, although who and what exactly is to blame is certainly up for debate. To help you form your own conclusion, here is a summary of some notable research and comments from all sides.
Grant Thornton’s Findings Are Interesting
After the accounting firm Grant Thornton published a recent report, many people were of the opinion that Brexit certainly played a role in the current labor and product shortages. The results showed that there were almost a million job openings to fill in the UK, and around half of them are in the food and drink sectors, some of which are truck drivers. To complement Grant Thornton’s findings, many industry bosses feel that the lack of support from EU workers is drastically hampering the supply chain. This is supported by Grant Thornton’s research, which also highlights that around 1.3 million workers have left the country since the start of the pandemic and have not returned. The transport industry, warehouse services and the hospitality and meat production sectors are in desperate need of UK based workers but they are simply not preparing to take on the roles, hence the reason we are seeing a shortage. of products on the shelves and angry car drivers queuing at gas stations.
Transport secretary doesn’t blame Brexit
Grant Shapps, the transportation secretary, refuses to acknowledge Brexit as the root cause of these ongoing problems. Instead, Shapps is putting all the blame on the global pandemic, even though Brexit is making the problem that much harder to fix. He recently said: “The pandemic is the cause, but Brexit is limiting our options for solutions. “
Labor Party signals major planning flaws
As always in politics, the other side regularly seeks to stab the knife wherever it can. In the case of Labor, the party blames the Conservatives for the lack of planning, which stems from many warnings about a shortage of EU workers in the country. Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, have questioned the country’s immigration policy and feel that the UK must address the problem by changing its immigration laws.
Whichever side of the fence you sit on, there is no question that this is an almighty mess.