We had this conversation they other week at a party (because a person at the party had just sold both of
their homes in Spain and Italy)and not one person (we are from all walks of life) said they wanted or missed being in Europe, it had not effected our lives at all and as one German friend said it appears Europe keep “telling us” we are missing them when we are not, I don’t give being in Europe a thought unless planning my holidays.

Many people will only really consider Europe when it comes to holiday planning and the affect any changes to that may affect them. The 90 in 180 day rule will not affect them for their 1 or 2 week holiday every now and again. You say the group you were speaking to were from all walks of life? How many of them had planned pre brexit on moving or retiring to somewhere in the EU? How many were in businesses that traded with the EU either importing or exporting? It is such people as these that have and continue to be affected. If your group were made up of people such as I mention I'm sure the conversation would have been different. Recent polls I believe seem to indicate more people in the UK have changed their view and would now if given the opportunity vote remain. Such conversations as you mention depend up on the situation of those involved. Your friends who sold their properties in Spain and Italy unless we know the reason for selling mean little. Did they sell as a result of Brexit were they maybe holiday home owners who were not happy with the 90 in 180 day rule? Or had they just decided they had their use out of these properties and decided to sell anyway before brexit changed their situation. Brexit has happened we are where we are now and have to comply with the rules that are in place as a result of leaving the EU. Some will be happy with that and some won't as they say you can't please all of the people all of the time. Trying to prove after the event that Brexit was good or bad etc is irrelevant it's happened. From what I see Starmer is simply trying to improve the situation mainly for business to trade. He isn't going to rejoin in the near future, if that does ever happen then that will be a totally new negotiation both with the EU and the UK citizens.

And that's how the referendum was decided.

Businesses selling goods and services, logistics and transport, support and services, research and development, recognition of chemicals and medicines, cross-frontier workers, studying, recognition of education, training, and diplomas, residency for family members of different nationalities, living, working, retirement, etc... etc... etc... none of that matters. Just the two weeks holiday.

Well, so long as you're alright that's all that matters.

Lol I have much more than two weeks holidays overseas, having lived and worked in countries outside of Europe I do not see any difference to the above than when applying for work etc in over non Europe countries and to be honest unless I spoke a European language being employed in my or my husbands skills was a no go in Europe, my SIL has a business as do two of my nephews and they think it’s better for them outside of the UK as they have more options where they did not have before to buy good at a cheaper price etc. Universities in Europe still have UK students and visa versa so that has not really changed and as for buying goods the UK have much more choice than just being within the European block but we still do trade with Europe.

For the young and pensioners Brexit has reduced their opportunities by definition - I have yet to encounter a Brexiter who cane employ basic logic to explain how reducing opportunity is a benefit.

Rather than reducing immigration the reverse has happened - and at the same time labour shortages in some sectors directly related to ending FOM with Europe.

As far as universities it is a bit hard to believe EU students not affected by the increase in costs, and vice versa- and leaving the Erasmus scheme definitely reduces opportunities for young Brits. And just an anecdotal observation- this summer in France locals pointed out less young Brits in various programs, or even taking summer jobs.

Lower prices ? While there are a variety of factors affecting prices, I certainly have not seen for basic food prices some benefit from Brexit.

Hopefully Starmer can step by step start reversing aspect of Brexit in particular on freedom of movement. That not all Brits may seek to have the advantages of FOM. for many it is a negative FOM ended .

I dont think thats is true at all. Take out Ireland (not FOM as CTA) there are less than a million UK citizens living in the EU. Whilst there were more than 6m applications for settled status from EU citizens in the UK after Brexit. For the vast majority of UK citizens FOM isnt a concern. Perhaps some opinion polls may say UK ppl would want it, but very few would actually use it in reality. No chance Starmer will either bring back FOM, or join the single market/customs union, Thats just wishful thinking on your part, not reality.

I've never understood this "only affects a few" argument.
There may not be that many who actually live somewhere else in Europe but there are others affected. Like those for whom that option in the future has been cut off.
If dad can't do what his dad was able to do then that potentially adversely impacts in a variety of ways the grandkids, grandparents, spouses, siblings, friends etc....all those people affected by one person being hindered by the change.

It's similar to "not many people die" but their death affects many more people.

That most Brits would not take advantage not the issue- and a million not a small number, plus all those in the future whether students or pensioners now with less opportunity. And the reverse affect on labor shortages.

For example local care home has consistent shortages in did not have before Brexit, letting in hundreds of thousands of non-EU citizens has not helped, and to the extent raising wages the solution, that has not helped them either.

No I do not think Starmer will bring back FOM in the short term, though I do hope he can chip away at some of the Brexit idiocy.

And giving up access to the EU markets based on fantasies of trade deals with non-EU countries making up for it another weird idea.

Shortages of workers and immigration of non EU citizens is more a lack of planning, and/or ability to train UK residents where the shortages are, by successive governments, to investment or incentivize .

The UK has access to the single market, the TCA includes......

• A free trade agreement (with zero tariffs and zero quotas on all goods that comply with the relevant rules of origin);
• Cooperation on other economic issues, such as investments, competition, State aid, tax transparency, air and road transport, energy and sustainability, social security coordination and fisheries;
• A new partnership for citizens’ security through police and judicial cooperation, including data protection and data exchange;
• A comprehensive governance system

You wouldn't have had to live in the EU to be benefitting from freedom of movement of persons. That's a very narrow viewpoint.

Many thousands of UK citizens were able to (and did) hop across to Europe to work summer or winter seasons in hospitality. Likewise performing artists, now subject to individual member state rules which in some cases means no more than a single night without a work visa.

So, the UK should keep FOM just in case more people actually would use it rather than think about it and never do? The people complaining about losing FOM are mostly doing so for ideological reasons rather than stating facts about any uptake.
Everyone will die, so I don't understand what that's all about.

EU freedom of movement comes in different shapes and sizes and is used in different ways depending on the member state concerned.

"UK nationals didn't use freedom of movement" is a popular Brexit trope but it's complete nonsense. People from other EU states mostly went to the UK for work so they are easy to identify but many people using FoM are not counted in the actual FoM stats because they are travelling around or staying in their holiday homes for six months. A good example of this is the British pressure group of holiday homeowners in France who can no longer stay in said homes for six consecutive months - something they did for many years and probably took for granted.

Freedom of movement is used in many different ways and a lot of British people didn't even know they were using it. It's a dreadful loss and people are really feeling it now.