The current standoff between France and the UK has heaped pressure on the British government to find a solution to the problem. This mounting pressure on the British government could have a positive effect on Brexit discussions.

Watching Matt Hancock the UK Health secretary admit to Andrew Marr on Sunday morning that the new COVID-19 strain was “out of control” had the omens of a bad week coming for the British government. More than 16 million British people are now required to stay at home as a tier 4 lockdown came into force in the south west of England. Other countries were quick to move with France being first off the mark on Sunday evening cutting off all travel from the UK including freight.

This has spread to widespread chaos at both Dover Port and at Foulkstone

Ireland is following suit, banning all travel from England until 31 December 2020. Freight was allowed continue between Ireland and the UK. France’s decision meant the already very busy channel crossings where shut down with just a few hours’ notice. This has spread to widespread chaos at both Dover Port and at Foulkstone, the entry point to the Channel Tunnel. Both the Channel Tunnel and the port at Dover account for 46% of goods sent from UK to the EU on an annual basis.

Backlog

On Tuesday afternoon the British government stated there were 1,523 lorries, many carrying perishable items parked on the M20 and at Manston airfield, a pop holding area close to Dover. By Tuesday evening that figure had risen to close to 3,000. Manston airfield was the chosen location for lorries should there be a hard Brexit from 1 January 2020 onwards. Operation Brock – the code name for the new traffic measures – came into effect on Monday night and involved diverting traffic off the main carriage ways to holding areas. Many hundreds more pitched up on the side of the road on the M2 and along the sea front in Dover. Toilet facilities, food and medical supplies have all been highlighted as issues causing drivers concern as they are laid up in Kent.

Welfare

Richard Burnett chief executive of the British Road Haulage Association said that the government must resolve the issue before UK retailers start to experience some shortages to supply chains. Citrus fruit, broccoli and cauliflower have all been mentioned as being the first products to be affected should the supply chains remained halted. It’s also unacceptable to hold lorry drivers in these conditions without access to proper facilities. Duncan Buchanan policy director with the road haulage association said: “The Dover Port chaos is of a different order of magnitude and in the context of what is coming on 1 January, this is the start of a very very serious supply chain disruption, the like that probably we have never experienced.”

I passed hundreds of lorries parked up heading for France

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Gerry Keegan a lorry driver with Mollaghan Transport in Longford said: “It all happened very quickly and it's really tough on the lorry drivers stuck in Kent at the moment.

“I docked on Monday evening and came back to Ireland Tuesday and there was no restrictions on the way back but I passed hundreds of lorries parked up heading for France.

“I was lucky in that I generally go out Friday with a load of beef from Ireland to Germany. I make a drop in Frankfurt, another drop in Osnabruck in North Germany and then pick up a load in Bruges in Holland on the way back. I’m generally back in on a Wednesday.

“I was due to go out this Thursday again but that load has been cancelled due to the disruption,” Gerry said. “This could all change very quickly again and that’s why a lot of the lorry drivers who are waiting down there at the moment are hoping for but there’s a big backlog to clear.

“The problem is that a lot of those lads have perishable goods in fridges behind them and there is only so long shell fish or lamb can keep.”

When asked about the extra routes from Rosslare to Cherbourg, Gerry said that route was fine for Paris or Spain or Italy, but it adds an extra day travelling going to northern Europe. All eyes will be on France tonight as the 48-hour ban comes to an end.

Talks

So what does all this all mean? There is no doubt that pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Boris Johnston to seek a solution to the current trade situation. He has communicated with the French president Emmanuel Macron and has said he hopes that freight movements will return soon. Measures agreed by the UK and France are thought to include compulsory negative tests for lorry drivers. In the meantime, the British people – both consumers and manufacturers – have got a taste of what sort of chaos could ensue after any changes to the “just in time” supply chain model. The sights of hundreds of lorrys parked up and 27-mile tailbacks haven’t been off TV screens for the past two days. It is this chaos and the pressure that is mounting on the British government as a result of their handling of COVID-19 that could provide for more meaningful discussions in the coming days with regard to an orderly exit for the UK out of Europe on 31 December.