Tories to build hard border in Kent after Brexit

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told MPs that European hauliers would need a “Kent Access Permit” to get into the county from 1 January. 

Earlier this week, the Tory sent a letter to the industry warning that if they do not prepare now for Brexit they could find themselves waiting in queues of up to 7,000 trucks.

Updating the Commons on the UK's preparedness for the end of the transition period in 100 days, Gove said: “We want to make sure that people use a relatively simple process in order to get what will become known as a Kent Access Permit.

“If they don’t have the material required, then it will be the case that through policing, ANPR cameras and other means, we will do our very best to ensure that … constituents [in Kent] are not inconvenienced,” he added.

Gove said the Government was outlining its "reasonable worst-case scenario planning assumptions", telling MPs it was not a prediction or a forecast but what could happen if preparations are not made and "if our neighbours decline to be pragmatic".

He explained: "The scenario builds on an estimate that only 50% to 70% of large businesses and just 20% to 40% of small and medium-size enterprises would be ready for the strict application of new EU requirements.

"In those circumstances that could mean between only 30% and 60% of laden HGVs would arrive at the border with the necessary formalities completed for the goods on board.

"They'd therefore be turned back by the French border authorities, clogging the Dover to Calais crossing."

Gove said this could lead to queues of "up to 7,000 HGVs in Kent", adding: "These queues and associated disruption and delay would of course subside as unready businesses who had their goods turned back at the French border would not want to repeat the experience.

"But it is clearly far better that everyone is aware now of what is needed to prepare rather than to face additional disruption next year."

Gove reiterated that the British people voted for change in the EU referendum.

He told MPs: "Now the Government is taking all these steps to help businesses prepare because change requires preparation and change is what the British people voted for.

"Because, outside the single market and the customs union, the UK can exercise all the freedoms and flexibilities of a truly sovereign state."

Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said people must assume that these worst-case scenarios over the post-Brexit situation "will play out quite soon".

She said: "The news today that there could soon be tailbacks of 7,000 lorries is quite extraordinary.

"I know the Government has said that they are committed to building new infrastructure, but I didn't realise it meant concreting over the Garden of England.

"Today's warnings are based on a reasonable worst-case scenario, but given we have a reasonable worst-case Government, we have to assume that these scenarios will play out quite soon."

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government's Brexit secretary, Michael Russell said ending the Brexit transition period in 100 days would be “an act of extraordinary recklessness.”

He accused Tory ministers of adding "to the distress of COVID-19 with the economic damage and dislocation of Brexit."

Russell added:“While the Scottish Government is responding to one unprecedented crisis, we are now being forced to prepare for another crisis which could have been avoided - the reckless pursuit of either a ‘no deal’ or ‘low deal’ Brexit in little over three months’ time.

“As a responsible Government, we will continue to do everything we can to mitigate against the consequences of the end of the transition period, but we simply cannot avert every negative consequence of the UK Government’s policy.

“As we contemplate the damage of Brexit being willingly added to the damage and distress of the COVID-19 pandemic, fundamentally the Scottish Government view is that the best future for Scotland is to become an independent country.”