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Port of Dover

(329 Posts)
Petera Fri 22-Jul-22 16:27:20

I thought some of you (but probably not all of you) would enjoy this post from Mumsnet today, posted with no apparent irony:

Well I voted for ending freedom of movement to stop foreigners coming here and taking our jobs and living on benefits. I did not vote to make any changes for me going on holiday.

HousePlantQueen Fri 22-Jul-22 23:16:11

What did you brexiteers think would happen? The French have taken control of their borders, just as you voted for, remember? Next thing you'll be telling us leftie remoaners that you believed what was written on the side of that bus! gringringrin. Nah, nobody is that gullible.....

vegansrock Sat 23-Jul-22 01:54:28

It’s up to the French how many staff are employed at their side of the border. They have control of their borders ! It’s the Brits who wanted border checks now they are moaning cos there are border checks. Maybe there could be a queue for those who voted Brexit where they get all the checks and passport stamps and one for remainers where we could get waved through like the good old days.

Wheniwasyourage Sat 23-Jul-22 09:10:56

Suddenly, vegansrock, there would be a huge number of remainers going on holiday!

mokryna Sat 23-Jul-22 13:16:45

Which passport do I use?
I also have the problem that I am only allowed 90 days in the UK for tax reasons, so if I used a different one each time, joining the fastest queue, are both noted or would I be accused as overstay.

MayBee70 Sat 23-Jul-22 13:19:31

It’s a good job so many people are struggling to get their passports in time to go on holiday, otherwise there would be even more people having to queue at Dover.

Casdon Sat 23-Jul-22 13:26:32

We often went to France by car and ferry on holiday when the children were young, so I know it’s a nightmare journey anyway, I feel very sorry for the parents with young children who are stuck. Whatever the reasons it’s come to this it’s a terrible way to start your holiday.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 13:30:19

HousePlantQueen

What did you brexiteers think would happen? The French have taken control of their borders, just as you voted for, remember? Next thing you'll be telling us leftie remoaners that you believed what was written on the side of that bus! gringringrin. Nah, nobody is that gullible.....

This has nothing to do with the present problem at Dover.
I am a left wing voter who also voted to Remain, and not only do I accept the result of that referendum but I refuse to go along with all the moaning about it or to insult people who chose to vote differently, just as I refuse to do the same about results of a General Election.
The point is, at Dover , only less than half French border
officials came to work there, why, we don’t know, illness or a deliberate act, but whatever the reason of course it had a bad effect on travel.The relevant politicians on both sides will have to resolve this.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 23-Jul-22 13:34:06

prentice not according to the French official.

His argument was that the French recognised that there would be issues once Brexit hit the ports and offered to put in extra desks and staff.

The U.K. government turned the offer down.

volver Sat 23-Jul-22 13:39:26

I do remember thinking, once we are out of the EU at least they won't have the Europeans to blame and they'll have to take responsibility for what happens.

How wrong was I?

Apparently everything is everybody else's fault and British Leave voters are blameless in all regards.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 13:39:27

I did read that only four of ten terminals were manned by the French officials whitewavemark2
Since our politicians are seeking meetings to discuss this problem I think we can surmise there is definitely fault on the French side.They initially claimed there were problems in the tunnel which seem to be discredited here.It certainly needs urgent discussions.

volver Sat 23-Jul-22 13:41:42

Prentice

I did read that only four of ten terminals were manned by the French officials whitewavemark2
Since our politicians are seeking meetings to discuss this problem I think we can surmise there is definitely fault on the French side.They initially claimed there were problems in the tunnel which seem to be discredited here.It certainly needs urgent discussions.

Sorry, I know that was addressed to WWM2 but I have a comment.

Its nothing to do with us how many people the French put on duty. It's their country, their border. They can have one bloke with a passport stamp, if that's what they want to do. And we'll just have to suck it up. If we don't like it, tant pis.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 13:43:12

Of course British Leave Voters are blameless in all regards
Volver just as British Remain Voters are.We, the people pay politicians and civil servants to run the country.
This view of castigating voters is deplorable.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 13:45:43

If they chose to do that they would be harming tourism in France in a very big way, harming their economy for years.
My guess is that it will be solved by discussions very quickly.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 23-Jul-22 13:48:32

volver

Prentice

I did read that only four of ten terminals were manned by the French officials whitewavemark2
Since our politicians are seeking meetings to discuss this problem I think we can surmise there is definitely fault on the French side.They initially claimed there were problems in the tunnel which seem to be discredited here.It certainly needs urgent discussions.

Sorry, I know that was addressed to WWM2 but I have a comment.

Its nothing to do with us how many people the French put on duty. It's their country, their border. They can have one bloke with a passport stamp, if that's what they want to do. And we'll just have to suck it up. If we don't like it, tant pis.

Yes that’s right.

The French control their borders as they see fit.

We must suck it up.

volver Sat 23-Jul-22 13:48:40

I'll be castigating the Leave voters for some time yet. You can't say its not the voters fault when they vote for something remarkably stupid.

We "nasty" Remainers told them what would happen but they went ahead regardless. And guess what? It happened!!

No sympathy, sorry. Leave voters are not blameless. How ridiculous. It really is their fault.

volver Sat 23-Jul-22 13:51:34

If they chose to do that they would be harming tourism in France in a very big way, harming their economy for years.

Do you think so?

I'm not sure that's true...

People really do have an odd view of the world. We're really not that important.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 23-Jul-22 13:53:24

I can distinctly remember posting about how long it would take to stamp everyone’s passport and the delays it would cause.

We were told that we were stupid and project fear etc. and that it would never happen.

We made the decision to leave, it is our responsibility to ensure a seamless passage. Look at the lorries, it is an utter disgrace.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 23-Jul-22 13:54:36

volver

^If they chose to do that they would be harming tourism in France in a very big way, harming their economy for years.^

Do you think so?

I'm not sure that's true...

People really do have an odd view of the world. We're really not that important.

The EU made up for the lose in trade with the U.K. by the end of last year. Anything more will be a bonus.

volver Sat 23-Jul-22 13:56:42

WWM2 I continue to see this idea that everything will be fine because we're British and we're bally important don't you know? Johnny Foreigner needs us more than we need him.

It's just deluded.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 23-Jul-22 14:00:29

This

Pierre-Henri Dumont
@phdumont
·
4h
No need to blame French authorities for the traffic jams in #Dover: that’s an aftermath of #Brexit. We have to run more and longer checks.

The British government rejected few months ago a proposal to double the number of passport booths given to the French Police in Dover.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 14:01:21

Those comments do sound very spiteful Volver
It is certainly not ridiculous and certainly not their fault.
If I vote, as I will in the next General Election for the Labour Party, and they do some unpopular or disastrous things will I be blamed for giving them my vote?
Annoyance should be saved for politicians, they are the ones who ask the people for their votes and explain why they should vote that way.
The referendum on the question of either staying or leaving the EU was for the voters to decide, which they did.
How it was implemented is most decidedly not what the people have to do.
It is not a right wing versus left wing issue either, nor a wealthy versus poorer issue.Voters from all walks of life had different opinions on this matter and voted accordingly.
My own family and friends and social groups all voted in different ways, as they are entitled to do.I have only come across insults on this subject on social media.I do dislike this attitude that anyone who votes differently is a fool, it is a very immature thing.

Mamie Sat 23-Jul-22 14:01:38

There was a period of about an hour on Friday morning when the border posts were not fully staffed because a delay in the tunnel meant that some members of the French border staff were not there at the beginning of the shift.
After that the posts were fully staffed.
This is the first big departure weekend since passports have been required to be stamped at the request of the British government.
France asked for more booths to be installed at Dover, but the request was refused.
Those of us who have been frequent travellers through the juxtaposed controls know that before Brexit passports were frequently checked by the British and the car then waved through by the French.
To check and stamp passports for a car of four people takes about a minute and a half.
Dover is a cramped site and the access is through the town.
It is easy to see how delays occur and queues build up.
It is hard to understand how anyone with a glancing acquaintance with the facts can blame the French.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 14:03:49

volver

^If they chose to do that they would be harming tourism in France in a very big way, harming their economy for years.^

Do you think so?

I'm not sure that's true...

People really do have an odd view of the world. We're really not that important.

Yes I do think so, if the situation was allowed to run on unchecked, although I believe it will not do.
A huge amount of tourism in the holiday season goes to France from UK.
It is nothing to do with feeling important.

Prentice Sat 23-Jul-22 14:08:33

I do agree Mamie that the paperwork at Dover after Brexit would definitely mean a slower pace of processing visitors, this is inevitable.It is for the two sides now to find the best ways possible to make things better.

ayse Sat 23-Jul-22 14:10:09

volver

I do remember thinking, once we are out of the EU at least they won't have the Europeans to blame and they'll have to take responsibility for what happens.

How wrong was I?

Apparently everything is everybody else's fault and British Leave voters are blameless in all regards.

It’s endemic, blaming everyone else for problems. It’s time they all grew up and spent time resolving these issues.