why didn’t UK just stay in EASA ?
So far as I can tell because politicians both sides of the channel seem to have been completely incapable of being constructive, despite the entire industry (including most of the the large proportions who voted for Brexit) and the CAA wanting the UK to want to stay in EASA.
I'm rather hoping we'll see an eventual convergence with FAA regs, but right now, one can't deny that it's a mess. (And I managed to SOLI okay, but still think it's a mess).
G