Brexit Without The Bullshit

'Punchy, pithy and short.' - POLLY TOYNBEE, GUARDIAN COLUMNIST 'In an ideal world every citizen would read this essential book, and think hard.' - PROFESSOR AC GRAYLING, ACADEMIC The broadcaster and journalist Gavin Esler reveals the long-lasting impact of the most momentous change in Britain for decades. In seven succinct chapters, he charts the profound changes brought about by leaving the European Union on key areas of life in the United Kingdom: Food and diet Health and the NHS Jobs and industry Education Travel to Europe From the food markets of Kent to NHS operating theatres to the boardrooms of big employers, Brexit is packed with surprises. And Brexit Without the Bullshit is not about the Brexit you were told you were getting: it's about the one we're actually getting. From the author of How Britain Ends: English Nationalism and the Rebirth of Four Nations and Lessons From The Top, this is the ideal accompaniment to books on Brexit such as the Fintan O'Toole's Brexit Chronicles and Michel Barner's Secret Brexit Diaries. Instead of concentrating on the Brexit referendum campaign, it uncovers the fundamental changes caused by Brexit - and what they mean for ordinary life. REVIEWS 'If you want a pithy, sober, clear-headed summary of what Brexit is actually likely to look like, @gavinesler's new book is spot on. Such a welcome antidote to all the whipped up sentiment - calm, factual, rigorous.' - DR RACHEL CLARKE, NHS DOCTOR AND CAMPAIGNER 'Esler provides the evidence of what Brexit has already done to Britain and the harm that it s causing and will cause, in particular to the poorest in our society. A guide for all who want to understand what Brexit really means.' - JESSICA SIMOR QC 'A brilliant demolition of the lies and liars that created the Brexit mess. Should be required reading at his old stamping ground, the BBC.' - ALASTAIR CAMPBELL, WRITER AND BROADCASTER WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK - BY GAVIN ESLER In 2016 I did something I had never done before. I voted in the Brexit referendum without knowing what I was voting for or against. No one explained to me - or you - what Brexit would mean for our lives. Whether you voted Leave or Remain, we did not know the facts about Brexit, how it would affect our jobs, food, schools, universities, the NHS, our families, pets, travel arrangements, and even the supposed unity of the United Kingdom. In the years since the Brexit vote, the British government has continued to fail to explain the facts about Brexit, and so I decided to find out for myself. The result is my latest book, Brexit Without The Bullshit. At first I thought that if Brexit were stripped of the bullshit - lies and deceit, scare stories and fantasies - there would be nothing left. But the facts about Brexit are so stark, there's plenty to discuss and think about. The key fact is this: Brexit is not an event. It is a process. Whether it happens or not, whatever version of leaving the EU we end up with, we will be forced to discuss Brexit for years to come. If we are to survive and perhaps thrive, we need to start with the facts. Gavin Esler CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1. Brexit & Our Food Chapter 2. Brexit, Our Health & the NHS Chapter 3. Brexit, Our Money & Our Jobs Chapter 4. Brexit & Our Children's Education Chapter 5. Brexit & Travel Chapter 6. Brexit & Our Country Chapter 7. A No Deal Brexit The Boring Bits: Glossary and Endnotes

**'Punchy, pithy and short. ***'***– Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist Brexit changed Britain. But what does it actually change for you? Brexit Without the Bullshit is the no-nonsense, evidence-based guide to the biggest UK political, legal and economic shake-up in generations — "the book Nigel Farage doesn't want you to read." Instead of recycled talking points, Gavin Esler focuses on what voters were rarely shown in 2016: the practical consequences of leaving the European Union for households, workplaces, public services and the UK's place in the world. Brexit isn't a single "done" moment. It's a process: referendum fallout, Article 50, negotiation deadlines, transition periods, and then years of new rules. That process touches everything: trade, immigration, regulation, security, and even the future of the United Kingdom. If you've ever wondered what "take back control" means in real life — on supermarket shelves, at the border, in hospitals, in schools, and in pay packets — this book is your clear-headed map. You'll learn how big political choices become everyday friction: Brexit explained simply: the EU single market, customs union, frictionless trade, regulatory alignment, and why customs checks, certificates and paperwork slow supply chains. Food and farming: tariffs, food standards, seasonal workers, freedom of movement, the EU Settlement Scheme, Dover/Calais bottlenecks, and why food prices can rise. The NHS and health: the £350 million-a-week bus claim, funding realities, staff shortages, recruitment from the EU and beyond, social care pressures, and why medicine supplies (from insulin to radioisotopes) are vulnerable to disruption. Jobs, money and the economy: the pound, productivity, investment uncertainty, manufacturing, automotive, finance, small business, wages and living standards — plus why "just in time" logistics hate uncertainty. Trade deals and consumer protection: why UK-EU and UK-US negotiations collide over chlorinated chicken, hormone-fed beef, GM crops, pesticides, antibiotics, and drug pricing — and what that could mean for public health, animal welfare and household budgets. Schools, universities and skills: education, research links, qualifications, opportunity and what a changing economy means for the next generation. Travel and rights: passports, driving rules, insurance, EHIC-style health cover, pet passports, and the small rule changes that can turn a simple trip into a headache. The union and identity: Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Irish border, and the stresses Brexit places on Parliament, democracy and the UK itself. Also included: a helpful glossary and detailed endnotes so you can check sources, follow the evidence, and separate facts from myths. Perfect for: • readers of UK politics, European politics, economics and current affairs • students, journalists, campaigners and debaters who need Brexit facts, not vibes • parents, travellers, business owners and NHS staff who want to understand real impacts • anyone who voted Leave or Remain and now wants the honest picture If you want a Brexit book that cuts through misinformation and explains food, jobs, schools and the NHS without the bullshit, start here.