A Brexiteer's Perspective on Five Years of Independence

A Brexiteer's Perspective

As Britain marks five years since leaving the European Union, a committed Brexiteer has compiled a list of 75 benefits of Brexit, ranging from defense and fishing to financial services and freedom from the European Court of Justice.

For Gully Foyle, the chief benefit of Brexit is reclaiming sovereignty. He believes that the EU's trajectory towards "ever closer union" would have ultimately led to Brussels making most decisions for the UK. He compares it to having neighbors in charge of his furniture and bedtime.

Beyond sovereignty, Foyle highlights tangible economic benefits. He cites a London School of Economics analysis estimating that the hit to UK goods exports in the first two years of Brexit was just £27 billion, far less than the cost of EU membership.

Animal welfare is another area where Foyle sees positive impacts. He points to the UK's ability to close loopholes in EU legislation regarding shark finning and improve laws preventing illegal puppy breeding and smuggling.

Domestic regulations have also seen improvements, with motorists now able to tow trailers without additional tests and cheaper car insurance due to insurers no longer covering ride-on lawnmowers.

However, Foyle remains concerned about Labour's potential direction under Keir Starmer, who has expressed a desire to "reset" relations with Brussels. He worries that Labour's policies, including taxation on private schools and renationalization of rail services, could be jeopardized by closer EU alignment.

The biggest risk, in Foyle's view, is "dynamic alignment" with EU regulations, where the UK would follow EU rules without any say in their creation. He believes this would render Brexit meaningless.

While acknowledging that Brexit is not fully completed due to issues like the Northern Ireland Protocol, Foyle believes the UK has severed ties with the bloc. He sees a need to address the subservience of Parliament and the Civil Service to external entities.

Foyle dismisses calls for rejoining the EU, citing polls showing that a majority of Britons would not rejoin if it meant accepting the Euro. He also highlights concerns about corruption within the EU.

Despite his list of 75 benefits, Foyle believes there are even more to come. He remains confident that the case for Brexit will continue to grow stronger, even with a Labour government in power.