‘It’s all a bit marginal’: claims of Brexit trade perks don’t add up, say firms

A business department report lists booming sales of honey to Saudi Arabia as one of the achievements of Brexit. Photograph: SimpleImages/Getty Images

On the fourth anniversary of Brexit last Wednesday, the business and trade secretary, Kemi Badenoch, trumpeted its successes. “The British people’s conviction that the UK would excel as masters of our own fate has paid dividends,” she said, launching a report detailing the benefits.

Among the top achievements listed were booming sales of honey to Saudi Arabia, surging pet food exports to India, a rush of UK pork, worth £18m over five years, heading into Mexico’s restaurants and homes, and UK beauty products sales leaping in China, thanks to barriers being smashed.