Dover is closed to outbound traffic

We've got a new name for this country---Plague Island
As lorry drivers called it when refusing to cross the Channel.

I think I mentioned this on another thread ages ago, but I used to have the same hairdresser as Boris when I was working in London. He assured me that, when BJ left the salon his hair was in perfect condition but that he often saw him just an hour or so later on TV with his hair standing up on end like Wurzel Gummidge!

He'll go bald soon as some of his hair is waving goodbye.
There's nothing worse than fine wispy, flyaway hair with no body/ weight in it. Not his fault though.

Grass doesn't grow on a busy street

Here in N.Ireland I've been getting messages that because of Brexit some things I order from the Mainland will be temporarily stopped and no deliveries. I order dog food from a company cos they are cheaper than the vets and my last ever order has to be put in by Dec 24th.

I believe the press conference that Johnson and Shapps just gave was the worst ever given in terms of distorting figures and facts by any government. Johnson stated that only twenty percent of Britains trade with Europe was transported by way of roll on roll off ferry transport.

That figure is true but in that twenty percent of all traffic near forty percent of fresh, chilled and frozen food entering Britain is transported that way because it cannot be carried any other way.

Tinned dried and packet food etc does arrive in containers with much of that passing through ports such as Felixstowe. In that, we have all seen the Chaos at those ports in recent days due to Covid-19 and advanced Brexit stocking up.

Johnson seems to be distorting facts and lying to cover up a year of total incompetence in the handling of Brexit and Covid-19 and nothing short of that

Alioop

Here in N.Ireland I've been getting messages that because of Brexit some things I order from the Mainland will be temporarily stopped and no deliveries. I order dog food from a company cos they are cheaper than the vets and my last ever order has to be put in by Dec 24th.

Gosh that’s awful Alioop. I was really shocked to discover that if I want to take my dog to Northern Ireland now (previously have done that on the ferry, very easy, had to remember to put him in the car & that was it) then basically I have to follow the same procedures as if I was talking him to mainland Europe.

Perhaps it would help for accuracy to post factual figures of food imports rather than encouraging people to panic buy.

According to ONS statistics for 2019 we produce 55% of our food and import 26% from the EU. Other food imports are Africa (4%), North America (4%), South America (4%), Asia (4%), Rest of Europe (2%) and Australasia (1%)

These figures are Farm Gate values of food produced.

The UK figures are given after food exports are deducted.

Holyhead port now rammed with cars and lorries as Eire closed its borders without notice. No available accommodation so families sleeping in their cars on this cold winter night.
Those of us with spare bedrooms too frightened to help because of covid.
I wonder what the Good Samaritan would have done under these circumstances.

I was amused how Johnson and Shapp today tried to portray the disruption likely to be caused by a no deal Brexit as a success. In that, they pointed to the huge lorry parks being made ready near Dover as proof that Britain is Brexit ready.

So, having trucks sent to those vehicle parks for an unknown amount of time rather than rolling straight onto the ferries with all the cost and disruption involved, is what we should expect as one of the benefits of "Taking Back Control".

Ridiculous

Not sure if anyone has realised that the trucks are all going OUT of the U.K.

I think that trucks are still able to come in, I could be wrong

Oopsadaisy1

Not sure if anyone has realised that the trucks are all going OUT of the U.K.

I think that trucks are still able to come in, I could be wrong

But I think they said that a lot aren't going to risk coming in case they can't leave again.

Oopsadaisy1

Not sure if anyone has realised that the trucks are all going OUT of the U.K.

I think that trucks are still able to come in, I could be wrong

You are right Oopsadaisy1, trucks can still cross from EU ports to Britain, but there is great reluctance by European based hauliers to take on journey work to Britain due to the delays that may come about when they come to re-cross the Channel to Europe.

British based hauliers collect a large percentage of freight bound for Britain as they return from the continent. However, they cannot leave Britain at present due to the closure of the ports.

Even when this current Covid crisis is over there will still be substantial disruption to heavy vehicles crossing the Channel especially if no trade agreement is forthcoming.

Retired well: I’ve been screaming ‘lies’ and ‘answer the question will you’ at my tv for 5 years now, and I can’t believe I’m doing even more than before. Twice Johnson was asked why he constantly gave people unrealistic hope about the pandemic. Twice he ignored the question, albeit possibly saying something about people needing hope. And then went on to do it again. I do wish someone had asked him why the EU had been able to close it’s borders so easily. It’s almost as if they, unlike us, have always had control of them.

prestbury Apparently, that's not quite true either. The UK does indeed produce 55% of the food it consumes, but some of the food which counts as UK-produced food is made from ingredients which have been imported. I can't remember the exact figures, so I'll see if I can find the article I was reading.

Even 26% from the EU is a lot, especially as it's food which couldn't be grown efficiently in the UK.

LauraNorder

Holyhead port now rammed with cars and lorries as Eire closed its borders without notice. No available accommodation so families sleeping in their cars on this cold winter night.
Those of us with spare bedrooms too frightened to help because of covid.
I wonder what the Good Samaritan would have done under these circumstances.

I wondered how Holyhead would be affected. The UK is a big importer of Irish meat and dairy products.

What's happening on the NI/Ireland border? I know that some farm workers and animals regularly cross the border in both directions.

Retiredwell

I was amused how Johnson and Shapp today tried to portray the disruption likely to be caused by a no deal Brexit as a success. In that, they pointed to the huge lorry parks being made ready near Dover as proof that Britain is Brexit ready.

So, having trucks sent to those vehicle parks for an unknown amount of time rather than rolling straight onto the ferries with all the cost and disruption involved, is what we should expect as one of the benefits of "Taking Back Control".

Ridiculous

"Amused" isn't the word I'd use, but I noticed that too. They just can't help themselves, so it seems.

growstuff

prestbury Apparently, that's not quite true either. The UK does indeed produce 55% of the food it consumes, but some of the food which counts as UK-produced food is made from ingredients which have been imported. I can't remember the exact figures, so I'll see if I can find the article I was reading.

Even 26% from the EU is a lot, especially as it's food which couldn't be grown efficiently in the UK.

Within that 26% of TOTAL food imports from the EU is contained the 40% total of Britains fresh, chilled and frozen.

That is the very important figure that Johnson forgot to mention.

Britain is self sufficient in potatoes. So having watched Dr Zhivago this afternoon and seeing them all surviving on boiled potatoes while travelling for days on end on a train, perhaps Johnson and Shapp believe we will all be happy to survive as the same.

Come on, it's got to be worth it to "Take Back Control"

Although thinking about it it could be that all the potato heads are in Johnson's government.

So this morning we saw at least 5 miles of lorry tail back in Kent.

We heard first hand from British hauliers about the chaos, loss of income and delayed goods.

We also know that lorries were parking in streets all around Kent.

This evening according to Johnson (the biggest liar and Shappes/Green) there were just 160 lorries in Kent.

Hands up all who believe them.

Anyone wondering why only some EU member countries have banned British from entering their country and some haven’t?

Sovereignty!!

Who knew.

Whitewavemark2

So this morning we saw at least 5 miles of lorry tail back in Kent.

We heard first hand from British hauliers about the chaos, loss of income and delayed goods.

We also know that lorries were parking in streets all around Kent.

This evening according to Johnson (the biggest liar and Shappes/Green) there were just 160 lorries in Kent.

Hands up all who believe them.

Yes, but what you fail to understand Whitewavemark2 is that because the trucks are no longer queueing back for miles waiting to enter Dover port that is a success in the eyes of this government.

You see the trucks have been sent away and in many cases are back in their depots. So, trucks gone away, problem gone away in the eyes of Johnson and his cohorts.

The fact that perishable food and all the other exports are now sitting in the back of those trucks undelivered does not come into it and should not be mentioned under any circumstances.

Simple as that.

Retiredwell

Britain is self sufficient in potatoes. So having watched Dr Zhivago this afternoon and seeing them all surviving on boiled potatoes while travelling for days on end on a train, perhaps Johnson and Shapp believe we will all be happy to survive as the same.

Come on, it's got to be worth it to "Take Back Control"

Although thinking about it it could be that all the potato heads are in Johnson's government.

I'm diabetic and haven't eaten potatoes for years. Does he want to kill us all?

PS. I can't find the article I was reading about food imports, but I believe you're correct. We'd really miss the fresh stuff we can't grow in the British climate.

So no queue =. No problem?

That’s how they are managing the spin.

Did you notice Johnson and Shapps snigger when Peston asked them if there will be a deal?

Yes, I did notice that Whitewave. He ignored the question and went on about how "no deal" won't be a problem. Worrying!

Whitewavemark2

So no queue =. No problem?

That’s how they are managing the spin.

Did you notice Johnson and Shapps snigger when Peston asked them if there will be a deal?

Yes, I also noticed the snigger when the journalist asked about a Brexit deal. It was almost as if they thought "what fools to still believe that will actually happen."

As I said up-thread, I believe it was the worst press conference I have seen in my very long life and I hope others are thinking the same.

Total distortion, lies and Bullsh*t and nothing else.