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| Post-Brexit checks contributed to Dover delay, says No 10 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Coaches waiting on Sunday evening to enter the Port of Dover | Coaches waiting on Sunday evening to enter the Port of Dover |
| Downing Street has conceded that "new processes" brought in after Brexit played a role in days of chaotic travel queues at Dover. | Downing Street has conceded that "new processes" brought in after Brexit played a role in days of chaotic travel queues at Dover. |
| Officials blamed slow border processing and more coaches than expected for 12-hour queues for ferries from Dover. | Officials blamed slow border processing and more coaches than expected for 12-hour queues for ferries from Dover. |
| On Sunday, Suella Braverman said it would be unfair to view the delays as an "effect of Brexit". | On Sunday, Suella Braverman said it would be unfair to view the delays as an "effect of Brexit". |
| But the PM's spokesman said the government was "in discussion" to speed up new passport checks in France. | |
| Port gridlock killing town, say Dover residents | Port gridlock killing town, say Dover residents |
| Dover delays clear after 'buffer zone' empties | Dover delays clear after 'buffer zone' empties |
| Rishi Sunak's official spokesperson said "a combination of factors" were to blame for delays - including poor weather and the high volume of traffic. | Rishi Sunak's official spokesperson said "a combination of factors" were to blame for delays - including poor weather and the high volume of traffic. |
| Asked whether Brexit was one of the factors, the spokesman noted French officials now manually inspected and stamped every passport as passengers left the UK, which required time. | Asked whether Brexit was one of the factors, the spokesman noted French officials now manually inspected and stamped every passport as passengers left the UK, which required time. |
| The spokesman said: "We recognise there are new processes in place - that's why authorities were given a long time to prepare for the new checks, including during the transition period, of course. | The spokesman said: "We recognise there are new processes in place - that's why authorities were given a long time to prepare for the new checks, including during the transition period, of course. |
| "And we are in discussion with our French counterparts about how we can further improve the flow of traffic." | "And we are in discussion with our French counterparts about how we can further improve the flow of traffic." |
| Delays to access ferries to France from Dover were first reported on Friday night when the port declared a critical incident. | Delays to access ferries to France from Dover were first reported on Friday night when the port declared a critical incident. |
| Extra ferries that were laid on overnight on Saturday were not enough to prevent the queues at Dover increasing through much of Sunday. | Extra ferries that were laid on overnight on Saturday were not enough to prevent the queues at Dover increasing through much of Sunday. |
| Officials have explained that long border processing times were partly to blame for delays - and ferry companies said bad weather had disrupted some journeys. | Officials have explained that long border processing times were partly to blame for delays - and ferry companies said bad weather had disrupted some journeys. |
| The port said ferry companies received 15% more coach bookings for the Easter period than what had been expected - which take longer to process than cars. | The port said ferry companies received 15% more coach bookings for the Easter period than what had been expected - which take longer to process than cars. |
| Dover also faced enormous disruption ahead of the spring getaway last year, with thousands of lorries queuing to leave the country. | Dover also faced enormous disruption ahead of the spring getaway last year, with thousands of lorries queuing to leave the country. |
| Brexit delays | Brexit delays |
| Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky it would not be fair to view the delays as "an adverse effect of Brexit". | Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky it would not be fair to view the delays as "an adverse effect of Brexit". |
| Sir Keir told LBC on Monday: "Of course Brexit has had an impact - there are more checks to be done. | Sir Keir told LBC on Monday: "Of course Brexit has had an impact - there are more checks to be done. |
| "That doesn't mean that I am advocating a reversal of Brexit, I am not. I have always said there is no case now for going back in." | "That doesn't mean that I am advocating a reversal of Brexit, I am not. I have always said there is no case now for going back in." |
| He added: "Once we left, it was obvious that what had to happen at the border would change. | He added: "Once we left, it was obvious that what had to happen at the border would change. |
| "Whichever way you voted, that was obvious. Whichever way you voted, you are entitled to have a government that recognises that and plans ahead." | "Whichever way you voted, that was obvious. Whichever way you voted, you are entitled to have a government that recognises that and plans ahead." |
| Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman for home affairs, accused the government of being "in complete denial about the impact of their botched deal with Europe". | Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman for home affairs, accused the government of being "in complete denial about the impact of their botched deal with Europe". |
| "Businesses and travellers are tied up in reams of red tape but ministers are refusing to lift a finger," he said. | "Businesses and travellers are tied up in reams of red tape but ministers are refusing to lift a finger," he said. |
| "It shows the Conservative Party is out of touch, out of excuses and should be out of power." | "It shows the Conservative Party is out of touch, out of excuses and should be out of power." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Dover | Dover |
| Brexit | Brexit |