I'm not sure the EASA PPL is a lifetime licence, - Who knows what will happen when we leave Europe.
As it's a licence issued by the UK then what happens in Europe has little bearing on the matter, the UK is responsible for its longevity.
Considering one of the EU objectives for EASA is
to assist Member States in fulfilling their obligations under the Chicago Convention, by providing a basis for a common interpretation and uniform implementation of its provisions, and by ensuring that its provisions are duly taken into account in this Regulation and in the rules drawn up for its implementation;
The old UK PPL is an ICAO licence yet EASA deceide not to accept it as valid within the EASA member States; it is not even second Class yet it remains a valid ICAO licence elswhere in the World.
The CAA re-issued all pilot licences not so long ago, free of charge, to meet the ICAO requirement for ELP and a similar process should have been adopted to align existing ICAO licences with EASA. Unfortunately, there was no govt funding for this process and the holder has had to pay for it. The whole process has been badly managed both Nationally and at the EASA end. All involved have totally lost sight of the Aim, if they ever had it in sight!