With the Economy Under Pressure, Can We Afford Brexit-Related Obstacles at UK Ports

Abstract

This past weekend has seen one of the most chaotic periods for lorries trying to leave the UK for continental Europe- compounded by the misery for passengers trying to get away for the Easter break. There have been special factors of course. Disruptions to P&O services following their controversial decision to fire some 800 workers and replace them with cheaper agency workers from abroad has not helped. Services are meant to resume soon but regulatory approval is still being awaited. But the problem has been compounded by a Brexit systems failure, something that now feels almost inevitable as we transition from an era of virtually no checks at the border to one with a multitude of checks, even if the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU managed to negotiate a tariff- free goods regime.