“Car crash!” exclaimed managing director Andrew Varga, whose Brexit progress I have been following since the referendum. News of the latest Brexit U-turn landed on him on Tuesday out of the blue. All his years of preparation for a new UK product safety mark, all his thousands of pounds wasted, all the uncountable hours and effort were rendered pointless, at a stroke.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), within the last quarter of 2022, the UK imported about £33billion more than it exported to the EU. / This is the worst performance of the UK export trade balance since records began in 1997. / This is a shocking testimony that Brexit has caused fundamental deep-rooted damage to British exports.

Every now and again the full, ongoing Brexit disaster is illustrated in technicolour. New evidence has been published showing how appalling it is for the economy, exports, jobs and the health service.

There is only one real way to properly calm the markets – the Prime Minister and the Chancellor need to reverse the unfunded tax cuts they announced.

The UK debate about Brexit’s impact on the economy has ranged from non-existent to unserious. Labour is avoiding the subject, to try to regain lost voters in pro-Brexit constituencies, and the government immediately changes the subject to vaccines or free trade deals.

Rees-Mogg’s efforts to reap economic benefits from Brexit has come up woefully short.

“Brexit Opportunities Minister”. How about that for a contradiction in terms? Yet, this is a genuine post created for the oft-called “Member of Parliament for the 18th Century”, Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Johnson is at the mercy of his cabinet. The trouble is, as Leavers, none of them will face up to our post-EU crisis either

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

New rules and standards on EU trade will make the first set of Brexit measures pale into insignificance.

The Covid threat to GDP is waning, but don’t expect the pain wrought by leaving the EU to subside any time soon.

Something odd is happening with Brexit. Since June 2016 polls have all shown a nation split 50-50 on its merits. But now as we see what the reality of Brexit means there is a shift.

Instead of stripping back literary treasure – I’d call on government to listen closely to creators and retain the current system.

While Brexit continues to deliver more empty shelves for consumers, more carnage to our food and fishing sectors and more chaos to the people of Northern Ireland, the eternal sunshine of our international trade secretary’s spotless mind continues to deliver more doses of what seems like good news for faithful Leavers.

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

There can be few things more heartbreaking for a farmer or fisherman than to see their produce rotting in the fields, a depot or a container for no good reason.

Wales voted for Brexit by the same margin as the UK overall, 52 to 48 per cent, in sharp contrast to Northern Ireland and Scotland. / There is evidence that disproportionate support for Leave among the 21 per cent of Welsh voters who were born in England tipped the vote for Leave in Wales.

The prime minister has imperilled peace in Northern Ireland, and every day the economic fallout worsens.

EU must continue to monitor and ensure that the British hold up their side of the bargain.

An article written by Peter Hardwick from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) explains that the declining level of red meat exports between the UK and EU illustrates the new-found trade friction between the blocs.

In just the first few months of 2021, the UK has slashed its overseas aid budget, made clear its intent to pursue trade deals at all costs – including turning a blind eye to human rights atrocities and genocide – and announced an increase in funding to the UK’s weapons of mass destruction by 40%, signalling the start of a new arms race and ripping up 30 years of commitment to gradual disarmament.

WHAT was a simple one-step process of exporting meat to France in December is now a resource-draining 23-step marathon.

Meanwhile, in the real world, we have seen a catastrophic slump, by 41%, of all our exports to the Continent. / Trade between Welsh ports and Ireland (which remains in the single market) has seen a decline of 50% in Holyhead, and 40% in Pembrokeshire.

Trade has plummeted and red tape has blocked our borders. Is that what ‘protecting our sovereignty’ meant?