I gained a UK ATPL many years ago and worked in the UK for 15 years before being forced, by redundancy, to move overseas. Throughout my time abroad the UK CAA would always recognise my overseas jet time and would allow me to re-validate my licence on my return to the UK.
I now find that under the jackboot of EASA, because I have not exercised the privileges of my UK licence for 7 years it has become invalid and if I wish to fly in the UK I must take all the exams again.
The UK CAA is now no more than a regional office of EASA and the authority to re-validate my ATPL has been taken from them and surrendered to their masters in Brussells If I needed one reason to get Britain out of the EU this would be a good start. As it happens I can think of more than one.