Brand loyalty

I used to be brand-loyal much more than I am now, but since the government has pretty much destroyed the economy over the last 10 years (or thirty if you take Thatcher into account) I am less so. I suspect that the most brand-loyal country in the developed world has to be America - HAS to be Helmans - that sort of thing.

I try to buy British as much as possible, but that is proving quite difficult in most supermarkets. Sometimes you just cannot stop yourself from buying seasonal vegetables which are grown in vast Spanish poly tunnels.

H.P Sauce and Marmite used to inspire ferocious loyalty, but since they are both made in Europe by large multi-national companies I have even lost my affection for them, let alone loyalty. I have discovered that Aldi and Lidl make identically good versions of them for about half the price.

I have just renewed my car insurance. The insurance market is not known for rewarding customers who stay loyal to them over the years, but the NFU has just rewarded a Land Rover-driving friend of mine in a very meaningful way.

Last year my car insurance premium was £330. This year they wanted £1,021. I eventually found a policy for £670. I asked the broker why the premiums have doubled in a matter of weeks and he said that a lot of them have tripled. 

He explained, "It is mainly to do with Brexit", and gave me multiple examples of how we will continue to be punished for leaving Europe. He was completely unemotional about it.

It isn't even as if we are back in charge of our own laws and decisions. I don't think any sane person can deny this any more. Even Canada is getting cold feet because we have a popular policy decision not to import hormone treated beef.

The only benefit we have had from Brexit was the ability to hog the market for vaccine during the pandemic. The rest is utter shit and it is going to stay that way.