Letter: Counting the cost of Brexit
It was clear that Brexiteers were balancing what to them was a benefit of 'gaining so-called control of our borders' against an economic cost of not being part of the EU.
It is also clear that they assumed that the economic cost would be small and not worth considering. Evidence is emerging now that the cost is going to be large, and therefore there does need to be consideration of who is going to carry that cost.
Obviously, some will be carried by businesses as part of the cost of trading with the EU. Those costs should be left with those businesses affected.
There should be no subsidy from the UK government. The reason being that clarity of the cost of Brexit will be maintained. Further, businesses can then make proper economic decisions on the best response to those costs.
There will be some costs that will be carried directly by individuals, for example travelling to the EU and exchange rate changes.
Again, these costs should be left with the individual.
Finally, there will be a large cost carried by the UK government. It is important that these costs are separately accounted for by the government, and that they are paid for separately from all other taxes.
Therefore a tax should be raised operating in line with the voting system that created those costs, that is, an equal amount per person.
If the above measures are taken, we will be able to monitor the impact of Brexit in a way that will allow us, as voters, to make better decisions in the future.
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