Governments must acknowledge the fundamental reality that migrant workers don’t take jobs and benefits, but fill in essential labour needs

Three years on, we are covered in the scars of what it has done to this country.

Health systems in the UK have a long standing dependency on international staff, and over the decades this has tended to intensify at times of shortage. Today is no exception, but this period of shortfall coincides with departure from the European Union (EU)—causing rapid, and at times, concerning changes in patterns of recruitment.

Three years ago, on 31 January 2020, the British flags that had flown outside European Union buildings for over 40 years were lowered. The then prime minister Boris Johnson had “got Brexit done.” Except he hadn’t.

In historical terms, however, those transgressions will end up being little more than footnotes. Viewed from afar, Johnson’s greatest failing is liable to be what he hoped would be his glorious legacy: Brexit.

Our silence over the issue is compounding the problem.

An island nation must trade with its nearest mainland, whatever our new Brexit opportunities minister claims.

Shortages in the labour market, along with the vacancies in the health service, hospitality industry and agriculture, are the living evidence of this self-inflicted act

Inflation is rising, worker shortages are grinding us down and consumers are hurting, but No.10 is introducing measures which will make the situation worse

They know that Brexit lies at the heart of what is happening, and that what’s happening must therefore be ignored.

On trade, finance, migration, food standards and more, the UK suffers fresh ignominy on a daily basis.

Half a decade after the referendum, the economic hit to the UK caused by Brexit is becoming clearer. But it will be years before the true impact is understood