With the Brexit deadline looming large – but a real sense in which we might not be able to predict the way in which it’ll go, even now – it’s time to consider the changes a Brexit at the end of October might bring about. That’s what this article tackles, asking how your local shop will change in the aftermath of Brexit. It’s important to note that the political situation is still in flux, and the constitutional crisis that’s bedevilling the UK has yet to resolve. But, here’s what you might be able to expect in the coming months.
In The Event of No-Deal
Splashed across newspaper front pages for long enough now to give you some idea of its severity, a no-deal Brexit will ring the most changes in your local shop. It’s the deal in which the UK will be the biggest losers, in terms of both long-term and short-term difficulties in border regions. For instance, the recently leaked and more recently published ‘Yellowhammer’ document, produced by the government, suggests the UK will be looking at 6 months of severe trade disruption in the wake of a no-deal Brexit. No doubt, this will mean food shortages in certain kinds of food that perish quickly in transit.
Political Fluctuation
Meanwhile, there’s now a good chance that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s proroguing of Parliament might, in fact, not lead to the October 31st Brexit that was expected. Instead, we can expect some degree of political fluctuation that will alter many elements of the economy, of trade, and of politics as a whole. These include:
- The potential for a General Election to take place before 2020
- A people’s vote, which might alter the course of Brexit entirely
- Civil unrest as a result of no-deal Brexit or other political upsets
- Defections and resignations in Parliament further diminishing the Prime Minister’s lack of majority
As such, it’s difficult to call what exactly will happen in the run-up to the end of October – but by following the IG timeline, it’ll be easier to recognise when and where these political fluctuations will affect the market – and your local shop.
Think Products
In any Brexit deal, there’s likely to be minor changes to your local shop. Even in the event of a deal with the EU in which the UK exits the EU in an orderly fashion with trade arrangements held, there will be some degree of disruption for certain goods that move across the UK’s border with the EU. For your local shop, this might mean running low on some lesser-used ingredients and items.
In the wake of leaving the EU, though, the UK is likely to move headstrong into trade negotiations with other blocs – most notably with Canada and the United States. The trade deals that emerge from these talks will empower consumers by giving them more choice – and so, in the long term, consumers may be likely to see some cheaper products enter their local store.
While Brexit is far from a done deal, we can draw these speculations, at this late stage, as to what might happen in your local store.
