Couple of things:
1) The UK could have decided on who comes in and who goes out with or without the EU. Same way Austria and Germany decide who comes into the country from outside of the EU, the UK could have done the same and was actually doing the same. Bright talents were never hindered to come to the UK from anywhere, and if anything, the UK will become now less attractive due to not being part of Europe.
The fact that Polish and Romanian workers came to the UK and had rights like other EU citizens, is something you might complain about as a Pakistani or Iranian, but then again, there was a reason they came to the UK in the first place, which is that the UK had a demand for these workers. And frankly, Polish workers for construction, carpenters, truck drivers are simply better educated than say Pakistani ones.
Same way, lots of Eastern German citizens are currently working in Switzerland as they get paid much more than in Germany. It's a give and take. The only thing Polish workers did to the UK was pay taxes. It was a non-zero-sum-game.
2) The main reason UK was attractive over the past 20-30 years for big banks was being part of the EU. Whether you like it or not, the UK will lose some banks as they will not be able to trade and clear Euro denominated bonds in the UK anymore. No one knows how many will leave, but there will be people leaving. Brexit will have a toll on the UK housing market, which has been a big part of the wealth for British citizens.
1) The UK could have decided on who comes in and who goes out with or without the EU. Same way Austria and Germany decide who comes into the country from outside of the EU, the UK could have done the same and was actually doing the same. Bright talents were never hindered to come to the UK from anywhere, and if anything, the UK will become now less attractive due to not being part of Europe.
The fact that Polish and Romanian workers came to the UK and had rights like other EU citizens, is something you might complain about as a Pakistani or Iranian, but then again, there was a reason they came to the UK in the first place, which is that the UK had a demand for these workers. And frankly, Polish workers for construction, carpenters, truck drivers are simply better educated than say Pakistani ones.
Same way, lots of Eastern German citizens are currently working in Switzerland as they get paid much more than in Germany. It's a give and take. The only thing Polish workers did to the UK was pay taxes. It was a non-zero-sum-game.
2) The main reason UK was attractive over the past 20-30 years for big banks was being part of the EU. Whether you like it or not, the UK will lose some banks as they will not be able to trade and clear Euro denominated bonds in the UK anymore. No one knows how many will leave, but there will be people leaving. Brexit will have a toll on the UK housing market, which has been a big part of the wealth for British citizens.