Welcome to post-Brexit Britain where UK firms still come last

ATlast, Brexit appears to be ironed out, and we can move on. To what? That’s not an anti-Brexit observation but one directed at those responsible for ensuring we enjoy the benefits, ahem, of leaving the EU. The omens are not good.

- Chris ao Blackhurst

So far, there has been precious little sign of the “Brexit dividend”. We don’t seem to realise that we’ve left the EU and there are gains to be had.

This week has seen a case in point. French company Sodexo has been awarded the contract to make post-Brexit border checks. It beat London-listed Wincanton to run Inland Border Facilities for HM Revenue & Customs.

Wincanton holds the current contract, worth £71 million. The work will now transfer to Sodexo in June this year.

The stock market gave its verdict, marking Wincanton shares down by nearly a quarter and wiping more than £100 million off the company’s worth. The British firm said it was “extremely disappointed” not to have been awarded the new contract. That’s polite corporate-speak for a mood that is unprintable here.