SofteningTheBlow

SOFTEN THE BLOWmost obviously that of the Anglophone world. Britisheducation and vocational training should improve tomeet sustained demand.• Access to fundingMany British companies currently benefit from theEU’s largesse in the form of subsidies or research anddevelopment grants. These include farmers, engineers,automotive developers, fishermen and the Welshregions. The loss of these funds could be devastating asit would leave Britons competing with still-subsidisedEuropeans.Political hostility to the idea of subsidies mustacknowledge that, given the competition, an abruptfunding loss could irreparably change the countrysideand the economy. Using the money saved fromterminating EU budget contributions, the UK couldraise ‘mirror funding’ with long-term commitmentsto establish stability. These commitments could bebased on cross-party agreement or an inflation-linkedsystem, limited treaties to stay part of specific EUinitiatives, or memoranda of understanding.• Gold and platinum platingThere are various farm regulations, green energy rules,small business regulations and banking taxes thatthreaten UK competitiveness. Of those that derive fromthe EU, many have been ‘gold plated’, or made moreonerous by Westminster. There are other regulationsthat are entirely home-grown but hold businesses backjust as much.Future governments either need to tailor regulationsthat are competitive with Europe to provide a levelplaying field, or accept they are damaging X industry· x ·