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France has begun to gloat that Brexit has already started to drive thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in assets away from the UK. In response, Express.co.uk asked its readers whether they thought Boris Johnson should consider taking action against the EU, in response to France taking the UK’s financial services crown.
The poll, carried out from 10.30am-7pm on Thursday January 21, asked: “Should Boris punish EU if France plunders UK’s financial services?”
Out of the 6,044 respondents, the overwhelming majority voted “yes”, with 96 percent (5,820 people).
Just four percent (185 people) said “no”, while less than one percent (39 people) opted for “don’t know”.
Readers then took to the comments to explain why they thought the UK should take such action against Brussels.
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One person wrote: “Absolutely! The EU punish us for things we are THINKING of doing, let alone things we are doing that they don’t like!!”
Another user said: “If France and the EU do not fairly facilitate our exports then we stop the import of their vehicles and wine and cheese and sausage and hams.
“We also need to start buying our foods from other countries where the food is not overpriced because of the CAP.”
A third wrote: “Should the EU take punitive measures against the UK , these measures must be met IMMEDIATELY with retaliation.
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“Prime targets would be swingeing tariffs on the automotive, wine and dairy markets.
“The biggest immediate act would be for a ban on ALL EU fishing fleets from our waters.”
Another user said: “Punishment for perceived bad behaviour by member states is the gold standard reprisal method, and par for the course in the EU handbook.
“It is about time the UK dropped its ingrained sense of fair play when dealing with people who have nothing but the destruction of our country on their agenda.”
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However some readers didn’t think the UK had enough power to impose punishments on the EU.
They wrote: “I am sure it would be great to punish France and the EU and they may well deserve it but it is delusional to believe Boris has that power.
“The best thing we can do is go our own way and let them go theirs.”
The poll comes after the Bank of France’s governor said on Tuesday that Brexit had led to nearly 2,500 jobs and at least €170 billion (£150 billion) in assets moving from the UK to France by the end of last year.
Francois Villeroy de Galhau told a press briefing: “In spite of the pandemic, almost 2,500 jobs have already been transferred and around 50 British entities have authorised the relocation of at least €170bn (£150bn) in assets to France at the end of 2020.”
And he insisted businesses would continue to abandon Britain throughout 2021.
Francois Villeroy de Galhau told a press briefing: “In spite of the pandemic, almost 2,500 jobs have already been transferred and around 50 British entities have authorised the relocation of at least €170bn (£150bn) in assets to France at the end of 2020.
“Other relocations are expected and should increase over the course of this year.”
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