Redwurzel
Well-known member
The model of imported labour from cheaper areas of Eastern Europe was covering underlying problems in this country, in the Blair/Brown and Cameron years. As the years have gone on this supply of cheap young labour was drying up any way. While the tap was on, British employers could continue to discriminate against segments of its own population (e.g older workers, disabled workers) and in some cases avoid doing significant training and investment (e.g hand picking fruit and veg). Employers could also drive down wages e.g. pay £20k a year for driving large lorries for unsocial hours. Its interesting how wages in low paid jobs have increased well above inflation in recent times, but less so certainly before Covid.
The UK owes a gratitude to the millions of young (often former communist country) workers who came to this country, but it is and was not sustainable, certainly not to the scale of of the 1997-2016 years . Those countries have increased their own wealth significantly since 1997.
Free and fair trade with all countries I am very much in favour of. The EU as an institute is a bit his and miss on this, it believes in free and fair trade with the EU, but historically not as keen outside the EU. The evidence can now be seen in increased difficulties exporting into the EU.
Ref Gas - why hasn't anyone invested in more in gas and electricity storage in the UK? Why has it taken 25 years to build a new Nuclear power station? Why has it taken so long to invest large scale in off shore wind turbines? If EVs and Ground Heat pumps are the near future why is so little invested in electricity generation? Why do import a lot Electricity from France (now down because of a fire)? I don't know the answer but this should have been happening for at least 10 years now, long before we left the EU. Cameron, May and Johnson have over seen these years.
The UK owes a gratitude to the millions of young (often former communist country) workers who came to this country, but it is and was not sustainable, certainly not to the scale of of the 1997-2016 years . Those countries have increased their own wealth significantly since 1997.
Free and fair trade with all countries I am very much in favour of. The EU as an institute is a bit his and miss on this, it believes in free and fair trade with the EU, but historically not as keen outside the EU. The evidence can now be seen in increased difficulties exporting into the EU.
Ref Gas - why hasn't anyone invested in more in gas and electricity storage in the UK? Why has it taken 25 years to build a new Nuclear power station? Why has it taken so long to invest large scale in off shore wind turbines? If EVs and Ground Heat pumps are the near future why is so little invested in electricity generation? Why do import a lot Electricity from France (now down because of a fire)? I don't know the answer but this should have been happening for at least 10 years now, long before we left the EU. Cameron, May and Johnson have over seen these years.
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