Not quite as simple as you are saying.
In 2024, the EU accounted for 41% of the UK’s exports (48% of goods exports and 36% of services exports). This share has been broadly stable over the last few years, although down from 47% in 2010 and 2011.
The EU accounted for 51% of UK imports in 2024 (54% of goods imports and 45% of services imports). The EU accounted for between 50% and 53% of UK imports between 2010 and 2020. This fell to 47% in 2021 and 2022. It increased to 51% in 2024, largely due to a fall in goods imports from non-EU countries, especially fuel.
54% to 47% in terms of trade like that is a LOT. At the same time our exports to the EU fell.
Essentially the focus on this government has caused a fall in imports from non EU countries and not a rise in EU goods imported. You cannot use monetary value after 10% inflation unless you use an inflation adjuster.
We stand at a crossroads. The EU is roughly 50% of our imports. Important but in no way the same as most other EU countries which are 70% or more trading internally to the EU market.
We can choose to go to the world stage, build our relationships and grow, or we can carry on tying ourselves to the EU and going nowhere they do not want us to go.
It is that simple. Moving our imports to other countries will encourage bilateral trade which currently does not exist. The EU? The reason our exports have not fallen much is because what we export they need and mostly can't get viably anywhere else without significant penalties/issues.
This whole "we must have the EU" is already BS. Outside the EU the goods are cheaper on average for us to import. We are already close to 60% of our goods and services being exported outside the EU. Only a small nudge will take us to 70% or more outside the EU and we can bring imports down to 40% or less within 5 years.
All whilst mostly retaining our exports to the EU.
What are they offering us? Nothing we do not already have.
What do we have to gain by actually excelling and becoming world traders? Everything.
We are the 6th largest economy in the world. With a decent government and a real plan for growth and we could overtake Japan.
What we have? A bunch of weak, spineless, civil servants playing at government, with no plans, no policies and no interest in the UK excelling in the world.
That is Starmer in a nutshell.
You know the funny thing? I'm not the only one who can see it. Which means that every time Starmer does this he reduces the dislike threshold for Farage.
Although Mrs S was talking to me about the Tories rumours about "bringing Boris back". My response took a few minutes as I rolled that one over. It was the Tory MP's as much as anyone who did for Boris. If anyone wants to bring him in the best party is Reform. But I'm not sure Farage would turn it over to him and I'm not sure Boris could step back from Net Zero which was one of his key pillars.
But Boris leading Reform? They're all finished. If the Tories are considering they can recycle him and get over the "lies" propaganda, Reform could really leverage him for the win.
