Britain must take full advantage of trade outside the EU

Ted Newson | 12th February 2026 | Brussels, Comment, Politics

The United Kingdom left the European Union in 2021 (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Five years since leaving the European Union, Britain has not yet taken advantage of the levers of free trade, writes Ted Newson

The 1st of January 2021 marked the UK’s official departure from the EU after a long transition period. EU laws no longer applied, allowing Britain to pursue its interests outside the EU’s framework. Architects of Brexit celebrated: they argued that less collective bargaining power was a price worth paying to choose our own negotiating priorities. Without having to protect the interests of Spanish tomato-growers or French fishermen, it was hoped we could secure greater access to services markets that form the backbone of our export economy. Five years have passed since the end of the transition period and the government has capitalised on some opportunities. One example, albeit a slightly chaotic one, was the rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations. Operating outside the European Medicines Agency allowed the UK to vaccinate its population much faster than the EU, which intentionally delayed its rollout for a month to start their vaccinations simultaneously. To mark the five-year annivers...

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