Has anyone perceived a single Brexit benefit yet?

[Pulcinella]

The only tangible benefit I'm aware of (in terms of reading about, not as a consumer!) is my understanding that VAT has been abolished on so-called female sanitary products, which was not possible under current EU legislation.
I think that the EU may have been discussing it, and also that Scotland somehow unilaterally abolished the VAT before Brexit day, but am not sure how: possibly their government/taxpayers had to make some sort of compensatory payment somewhere.
I'm pleased that this has happened (if it is true) but it is very small comfort indeed.

[DracoM]

One peripheral benefit might be that the Tories see off Blaffer Boris earlier?

[gurnemanz]

Has anyone perceived a single Brexit benefit yet?
No
It's turning out to be even worse than feared. An English nationalist folly, incompetently implemented.

[Katzelmacher]

Selina Scott (ex-newsreader and object of lust to the undiscerning) cited the ban on the export of live animals as her ‘reason’ for voting for Brexit.

I have heard this cited as the only possible immediate positive by a number of people, all of whom voted to Remain.

It’s far too early to begin a thread on this topic - I suggest we all come back in fifty years, as per JRM’s advice.

[oddoneout]

The only tangible benefit I'm aware of (in terms of reading about, not as a consumer!) is my understanding that VAT has been abolished on so-called female sanitary products, which was not possible under current EU legislation.
I think that the EU may have been discussing it, and also that Scotland somehow unilaterally abolished the VAT before Brexit day, but am not sure how: possibly their government/taxpayers had to make some sort of compensatory payment somewhere.
I'm pleased that this has happened (if it is true) but it is very small comfort indeed.

Scotland provides products free, rather than having abolished VAT as such. This I didn't know and found interesting

The Republic of Ireland has zero VAT on sanitary products as the rate was in place prior to EU legislation imposing the 5% minimum VAT rate on EU members.

From this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55502252 I can't find a date anywhere, but it makes me wonder if this was something that could have been dealt with but wasn't and then, in this case the boat was missed.
Brexit is too big a price to pay though... Especially as the EU was getting there anyway.

[oddoneout]

We wouldn't have perceived it, as we don't move in those circles, but I gather there is a group of people fond of creative accounting who will be perfectly aware of a very significant Brexit benefit, namely that their financial affairs will not be open to scrutiny. It is of course a malicious and entirely unfounded lie that such vested interests in any way influenced anything in such a way as might have been to their benefit.

[ardcarp]

The only tangible benefit I'm aware of [.............] is my understanding that VAT has been abolished on so-called female sanitary products

If that is so, it's the first and only plus that anyone has mentioned,

In an attempt to downplay the drawbacks, one hears people saying such things as, "We managed all these hardships during the War didn't we?" Well, yes, erm.....

More benefits please!

[muzzer]

There will be no “benefits” (howsoever defined) of any sort whatsoever. For 47 years the U.K. had the best of both worlds as far as possible, but its essential feudalistic hubris remained unsatisfied and now, with unerring timing, it has chosen to return to the dark ages. Damn those who voted for it, and likewise those implementing it. Good morning.

[Frances_iom]

it would appear likely that the UK will lose access to its pre-ordered vaccines as I suspect the Pfizzer vaccine will be collateral damage in the row over non-delivery of the Oxford/Astrazenica - this I suspect will just be the start of unfriendly decisions against the UK - the law of the Jungle is upon us and as everyone has pointed out the UK has deliberately crippled itself over the last 11years with lack of investment in local industry finally culminating in Brexit

[cloughie]

it would appear likely that the UK will lose access to its pre-ordered vaccines as I suspect the Pfizzer vaccine will be collateral damage in the row over non-delivery of the Oxford/Astrazenica - this I suspect will just be the start of unfriendly decisions against the UK - the law of the Jungle is upon us and as everyone has pointed out the UK has deliberately crippled itself over the last 11years with lack of investment in local industry finally culminating in Brexit

...and how many companies operating in the UK, including our utilities and railways are British owned.

[Anastasius]

Labour could presumably have prepared for actually winning the election, though no doubt after 18 years in the wilderness such things were just a folk memory.

And yes, mitigation of what even the most reasonable, smartest brexiter must have known would be significant short term disruption, could have been so much better.

Edit: it would seem that better supply of the Astra Zeneca vaccine to the UK has been helped by being out of the EU, ( in tye sense that the EU contract has been heavily cut) but who knows how that will play out medium term? Not the sort of thing to point score over.

Expect the EU could reciprocate and delay/cut supplies of Pfizer vaccine.

Edit: I see Frances beat me to it.

To answer the OP, none. My wife is a keen gardener and searches out rare and interesting plants. Over the years, she bought many from specialist growers across the Channel. Not any more. Each day, another email comes from companies that she has dealt with for years telling her that because of all the red tape they won't be exporting to the UK anymore. She's not happy.

[Anastasius]

Just thought of one benefit. We don't now get Farage gurning everyday on the TV.

[oddoneout]

Just thought of one benefit. We don't now get Farage gurning everyday on the TV.

The off switch was a cheaper solution...

And yes gardening is another casualty. The Heritage Seed Library, of which I am a member, had to impose a tight deadline on those abroad wanting to order their share of the seeds due to uncertainty about the post Brexit situation. Gardeners who've becoming increasingly used to being able to order European seeds may find that no longer possible, and certainly no longer financially attractive. I imagine Lidl will still be able to offer its seeds in season - inexpensive and good quality I find - as a large company able to navigate and absorb the admin, but stocks may well run out more quickly than usual. A great deal of the seed sold in this country is produced abroad, but I think in places like New Zealand, so that may not be too badly affected.
What stocks the garden centres will have for the season ahead - and at what price - is I think an unknown at this stage. The UK industry lacks the capacity to replace the Dutch production.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Real Seeds ( a small enterprise in Wales selling old variety and non-hybrid seeds similar to Heritage Seed Library) is no longer despatching to N.Ireland.

https://www.realseeds.co.uk/
“Right now, no exports of vegetable seed are allowed at all, either to the EU, or to Northern Ireland. This will change once 'equivalence' of regulations is agreed, hopefully fairly soon. But, even once this happens, because there is free movement of plant & seed material throughout the island of Ireland it means that all the plant health border requirements have now moved effectively to the middle of the Irish sea.”
“As a result even when it is theoretically allowed we would have to provide a phytosanitary certificate with each order which is just not viable for retail orders.”
https://www.realseeds.co.uk/WhyNI.html

Businesses on both sides of the channel will be facing multiple causes of increased costs for any transactions crossing the border. (Freight, admin, customs admin, sanitary certification and more).

Another one –“ Mastercard to raise fees by at least 400% for EU firms selling to UK customers”. Their charges to the seller which that seller will roll up with the other costs into increased charges overall.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/jan/25/mastercard-to-raise-fees-to-eu-firms-by-500-percent-for-online-sales-to-uk-shoppers

Individuals will no longer be able to order and receive from the EU cost effectively. Even if the EU seller registers for UK requirements they will raise prices to cover these costs - and because they can. Also a lot of EU businesses weren't ready to register for UK requirements and most or many of the smaller sellers never will register.

It will make bulk wholesale importers the only viable source of supply. Our choice of goods will rely on what they decide to offer and it will be in a higher price band because the terms of the alternative – competition from EU direct to consumer will be a lot higher for consumer quantities.

(BTW, Farage not coming up regularly isn’t a huge benefit for those of us who have learnt to ignore him….)

[Katzelmacher]

Just thought of one benefit. We don't now get Farage gurning everyday on the TV.

Nonsense. He’s the BBC’s single favourite person and they will use any lame excuse to stick his leering mug on television.