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It often seems to be based on the fact the UK is UK is either the second or third largest economy in the EU (leavers often say it's the second of course but it depends on the measures used).
But given we're a net importer and all our exports via road have to go via Europe...
A good practical example is food. We grow 61% of the food we eat, but if you look specifically at fruit and veg, there's a huge deficit in fruit and vegetable production. In 2015, imports of fruits to the UK were valued at £3.1 billion; imports of fresh vegetables (excluding potatoes because they're not vegetables they're a carb) at £2.1 billion.
55% of our tomatoes come from the EU - a lot from the Netherlands, which despite being tiny is the second largest exporter of food behind only the U.S. (because they've embraced modern high tech farming methods).
Britain will never be self-sufficient in food production, according to the president of the NFU.
But right, they need us more than we need them...
Fox-
Ugh.Obviously we'll start growing more to fulfill demand! Then we can give proper jobs to proper English people. We'll just knock down cities to make space.
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And 80% of our economy is services anyway. If I were running a European law firm, or consultancy, or IT firm, or financial services I'd be seeing plucky Blighty ruling itself out of competition with me as huge opportunity not a problem.
I imagine the French and Germans will cope with a shortage of cheddar, Marmite and pot noodles.
Although that is admittedly the breakfast of champions.
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A good practical example is food. We grow 61% of the food we eat, but if you look specifically at fruit and veg, there's a huge deficit in fruit and vegetable production. In 2015, imports of fruits to the UK were valued at £3.1 billion; imports of fresh vegetables (excluding potatoes because they're not vegetables they're a carb) at £2.1 billion.
55% of our tomatoes come from the EU - a lot from the Netherlands, which despite being tiny is the second largest exporter of food behind only the U.S. (because they've embraced modern high tech farming methods).
How do we come about those figures? I hope its not from Supermarkets saying "we sold x amount of ORIGIN - UK labeled stock"
Because you'd never suspect the UK producers to paper over an unforseen supply shortage due to weather with some euro stock to fill in the gaps...
NurseHolliday
Zumerzet
Yukirin
The lady behind the bar at the pub this evening believed this to be true. I'm still not sure why anyone would believe this to be true. Precisely why does anyone think that the 27 other countries in the EU are so dependent upon the UK? Genuinely mystified, particularly as it seems to be a commonly-held belief.