FOR anyone who has done the dismal tour of closed shops in Whitehaven and Workington recently, it must be clear that there is little sign of an economic upturn in West Cumbria.

With energy and food prices apparently rising weekly, plus the ever- increasing cost of driving anywhere, a retail recovery is looking a long way off.

Statistics are boring, but when they expose that this country also has significantly lower economic growth and higher inflation than other developed countries it is important to consider why.

All the comparator countries have had to deal with the pandemic, fuel price hikes, supply chain issues and shortages. Why is it that any growth at all in the UK is restricted to London and Northern Ireland? Well it could be the massive investments that London gets as opposed to the rest of our “un-levelled up” country, but why Northern Ireland?

It seems that the unique regional upturn in Northern Ireland is simply attributable to a rise in trade through the Irish Republic via its continued membership of the EU Single Market and Customs Union, all because of the controversial 'Northern Ireland Protocol' (NIP).

Our government seems bent on changing the NIP, even if a change means breaking international law and reducing Northern Ireland’s growth.

It also seems it is prepared to do that to appease a minority of hardline, supposedly 'loyalist' Unionist politicians, the same people who often refuse to implement Westminster directives when it doesn’t suit them.

I believe that we are now seeing the truth about the economic effects of the rest of our country not being part of the EU Single Market and Customs Union, hitting our economy at the worst possible time.

Those pesky statistics are even suggesting that instead of the Brexit bus claim of saving £350million a week by leaving the EU, its actually costing us £450million a week.

I know supporting or opposing Brexit has become a quasi-religious issue in this country but I hope it doesn’t take priority over honesty.

It’s about time, six years after the referendum, that an accurate 'stock take' of the decision to leave was carried out.

The recent list of Brexit benefits produced by the Brexit Opportunities Minister wasn’t exactly convincing, unless more powerful vacuum cleaners are your priority.

Things are bad, the poorest are suffering most and it seems that those at the top just get richer. Is that really the outcome people voted for?

Tim Knowles
Frizington