Food and drink exports to the EU almost halved in the first three months of the year, the Food and Drink Federation reports.
The group’s data showed that EU sales dropped by 47% compared to the same period in 2020. Covid is likely to have had an impact but the trade body said the decline was largely due to changes in the UK’s trading relationships with the bloc. The government said it was “too early to draw any firm conclusions” on the long-term impact of Brexit.
My comment: There are no apparent changes to life in London ( at least), except for the empty stores and newcomers to the main shopping areas. But these could be explained by covid, and it’s hard to distinguish cause and effect. You still hear foreign voices among the crowds. House prices are still apparently going up, and if covid has encouraged people to move out of London then it doesn’t seem to be reflected in property prices. But I suspect there is a lag effect and that the results of Brexit are going to be felt gradually, over the next few years.