I think what a lot of you are failing to realise is;
The UK CAA wound down when the UK became EASA. Then Brexit happened, for better or worse. And the EU took a hard stance and shafted the UK in every possible way in the divorce, out of spite I suppose, and probably to prevent EU/Leaver fever from catching on in many other countries who would love to leave the EU. Denmark, Holland?
The UK CAA was caught in the cross fire, and they've had to recover back to fully operational status. Not easy to do in the middle of a pandemic.
It's pretty bad timing, and very unfortunate for all our British licence holder friends. Just bad luck. But hopefully things get sorted eventually.