The starry-eyed search for a Brexit silver lining | Letters

Neil Kinnock and Simon Price respond to an article by Larry Elliott which argued that a benefit of Brexit is that UK firms will have to invest in machinery to boost productivity

Larry Elliott has a surprisingly neat view of labour demand and supply, and of British capitalism's ability and willingness to respond to the real incentive to invest more in new kit" in order to overcome labour shortages and raise productivity (If you want a benefit of Brexit, here it is: British employers must now innovate again, 9 February).

He is, of course, right that labour shortages now are not solely the result of Brexit. Covid, chronic underinvestment in training, the self-harm of austerity" and a decade of wage stagnation all play a part.