Dover is closed to outbound traffic

HMG has no control whatsoever.

With regard to the vaccine - two thirds of GPS have not received any vaccine. 50% of Hospital Trusts have received no vaccine.

The speaker has voiced alarm at the level of peerages Johnson is bestowing on his cronies, including over ruling the appointments commission who strongly advised against granting a peerage to a former Tory party co-treasurer.

Johnson has shelved plans to for rapid-turnaround coronavirus test centres across England, due to doubts over accuracy.

Johnson is being reported throughout the world as a man who attempts to lead by optimism, substituting it for hard truths and proper management and is getting a lesson into what “reclaiming sovereignty” means.

The blame for the parlous state of the country is put squarely at Johnson’s door, whose u-turn on Christmas “once more shows the yawning gulf between the prime ministers airy promises and the real world.

The vacuum between promise and reality is now being filled with anger and fear by a nation hit by horror story upon horror story.

The covid blockade will merge seamlessly with the Brexit blockade since there is no deal yet 10 days before the deadline.

If governing is about forward thinking - From having a Merry little Christmas to a hard lockdown to a looming shortage of fresh food. To providing a steady stream of vaccine and a working testing system.

Johnson has failed on every front.

The army could set up field centres for these people at the drop of a hat.

It is a political decision by Johnson not to give assistance to those stuck in Kent.

It is born out of exactly the same attitude towards hungry children and the poor.

I just read that the lorry drivers parked at the airfield are not allowed to use their camping stoves (fair enough, fuel etc). The nearest garage has a McDonald’s’ but they were being prevented from leaving the site.

I cannot understand why the govt have not sent in the army to provide field kitchens and facilities.

We are watching project fear becoming project reality. And those that may point out that no one could have foreseen brexit having to cope with a world pandemic should realise that governments should always plan for unforeseen circumstances. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

The majority of the Army are on two weeks festive leave, UK bases and those overseas operate on a skeleton staff over Christmas and New Year.

(Obviously this does not apply to personnel deployed in war zones or peace keeping duties)

Some Army personnel have been deployed in Wales to assist the ambulance service and paramedics.

As I understand "the plan" all those out at Manson Airfield are to be tested first, then sent on to Dover and onto the ferries. The problem is that all those at the front of the Queue from the M20 and parked near the port entrance have to be told they have drive the twenty miles to Manston Airfield to be tested before they can drive back and enter the port.

Trying to explain that to someone who is very tired and fed up and does not have English as their first language is proving very difficult and causing tempers to flare.

It has to be remembered that the vast majority of British drivers that do continental journey work are now parked up back at their depots with the freight due to be delivered to European destinations still in the back of their trailers. That situation should make us all wonder what all that parked up freight is doing to British business and industry, and how many will be in dire financial stress in the new year due to this complete stoppage and loss of revenue, especially where foodstuffs are involved.

I feel so sorry for the lorry drivers stuck in dreadful conditions not knowing when they will be able to get onto a ferry.
Not everyone may know but most if not all countries in Europe celebrate Christmas tomorrow, not Friday, which means their Christmas will be spent here on the side of the road.
We live in Kent and are,or were, often on the two motorways down to the coast and since brexit it’s noticeable that most lorries on the road come from Eastern Europe, so it will be a very long drive once they get to Calais.

MayBee70

But measures were supposed to be in place in the event of a no deal brexit. Why weren’t these measures implemented. As why is it down to the Sikhs and Salvation Army to help these poor lorry drivers?

Maybe the EU was expected to build facilities for their people in the UK?

Nah that can’t be it..... it’s truly a mystery why the UK didn’t prepare.

Sadly much longer than 48hrs.

And then they closed the port because of the weather, with thousands of lorries still Waiting... heaven help us if this is what we have to look forward to. The garden of England will become the toilet of England.

Shopping today in a well stocked supermarket. Plenty of fresh fruit and veg including citrus fruit and salad veg. Obviously, something is getting through.