disagrees with Chalmers about the possibilities of a beneficial trade                 ……… agreement between the UK and the EU?

A.      Chris Holmes

In my view, Brexit will have a devastating effect on the UK economy. Granted, membership of the EU wasn't cheap, but access to the single market, which exempts member states from paying tariffs on imports and exports within the EU, more than made up for the expense. Now, a whole new set of agreements will have to be drawn up. A free-trade deal with Europe is unlikely, as the EU will want to deter other member states from breaking away. Having left the union, the UK will also have lost much of its bargaining power to establish agreements with other world powers.