Interesting Brexit narrative now coming from government about potential chaos when transition period ends.
Warning that disruptions will be due to `failure of EU to plan' 1/
Warning that disruptions will be due to `failure of EU to plan' 1/
Quote from DEFRA secretary George Eustice: ``We can do all the work in the world to make sure our borders are ready ... But if when they arrive at the other side it's all a bit slipshod and disorganised and there's therefore chaos because of failure of the EU to plan...' 2/
``That's something that's beyond our control. That would be our biggest concern''
So the gov setting its stall out early -- any Brexit problems at the border will be blamed on the EU 3/
So the gov setting its stall out early -- any Brexit problems at the border will be blamed on the EU 3/
For its part, the EU says it's ready to handle new customs checks at ports etc.
If anything, the bigger concern seems to be lack of U.K. readiness - drivers turning up at EU border with incorrect paperwork, gov is building lorry parks as protection 4/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-03/government-gets-power-to-build-brexit-lorry-parks-across-england?sref=yMmXm5Iy
If anything, the bigger concern seems to be lack of U.K. readiness - drivers turning up at EU border with incorrect paperwork, gov is building lorry parks as protection 4/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-03/government-gets-power-to-build-brexit-lorry-parks-across-england?sref=yMmXm5Iy
And anyone who's played our Brexit game will know about the new red tape that's coming for firms, and how the plan is for *UK officials* to be diverting trucks to lorry parks 5/ https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-brexit-border-crossing/?sref=yMmXm5Iy
So the blame game is starting early - expect more of this...
And with 100 days to go until it all becomes a reality, a quick-fire reminder of what needs sorting on the UK side 6/
And with 100 days to go until it all becomes a reality, a quick-fire reminder of what needs sorting on the UK side 6/
Customs agents
The UK needs 50,000 to handle post-Brexit paperwork, and currently has about half that, per @LogisticsUKNews 7/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-04/shortage-of-customs-staff-risks-brexit-shock-trade-deal-or-not?sref=yMmXm5Iy

Key IT system #1 - Smart Freight
This is what drivers will use to get a permit to enter Kent, showing they have correct Brexit paperwork. If they don't, ÂŁ300 fine. System will still be in testing mode in January 8/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/businesses-face-weeks-of-bugs-after-launch-of-brexit-border-app?sref=yMmXm5Iy

Key IT system #2 - GVMS
This will police goods crossing from GB to Northern Ireland from Jan 1. Without approval from GVMS, a truck can't cross from GB to NI. System still in development, untested 9/ https://twitter.com/Joe_Mayes/status/1299248574241419264

Wooden pallets
The U.K. has a shortage of EU-compliant wooden pallets, and DEFRA is racing to plug the gap 10/ https://twitter.com/Joe_Mayes/status/1285463548676714496

A free-trade agreement
Of course, we're still waiting for a UK-EU FTA which would avoid tariffs on trade. Clock is ticking. If no agreement, lots of extra pain would be in store for manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals etc 11/ https://twitter.com/Joe_Mayes/status/1270663942877130754

Rules of origin
Even if there's an FTA, firms don't know if their products will qualify for tariff-free trade. The famous rules of origin issue 12/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-29/brexit-red-tape-reality-dawns-on-firms-bracing-for-origin-burden?sref=yMmXm5Iy

Business readiness
Firms have been hammered by Covid, and Brexit has slipped down the list of priorities. They're also doing far less stockpiling, due to lack of cash flow and believing it'll all be delayed again 13/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-27/firms-aren-t-preparing-for-brexit-due-to-virus-institute-says?sref=yMmXm5Iy

Vets
There is a shortage of vets to handle post-Brexit health checks on animal products moving in to the EU. Again, gov racing to fill the gap 14/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-08/all-creatures-great-and-small-will-get-stuck-at-brexit-s-border?sref=yMmXm5Iy

A financial services agreement
U.K. is still waiting and hoping for an equivalence deal with the EU on finance. But some are already triggering plans assuming Britain doesn't get one in time 15/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-18/jpmorgan-to-relocate-200-london-bankers-as-no-deal-brexit-looms?sref=yMmXm5Iy

A data adequacy agreement
This is huge for services business with UK-EU data flows. Still waiting for a deal 16/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-10/add-data-sharing-to-list-of-no-deal-u-k-brexit-bumps-quicktake?sref=yMmXm5Iy

Food flows into Northern Ireland
supermarkets face extra paperwork on GB-NI movements of food that would render business models unviable (export health certificates a big culprit). Gov urgently trying to find a solution 17/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-04/northern-ireland-faces-brexit-food-time-bomb-on-new-paperwork?sref=yMmXm5Iy

And of course there's plenty more - have to solve the Internal Market ruckus over Northern Ireland, agree permits for hauliers entering the EU, set up trader support for GB-NI goods movements... 18/
So the Brexit in-trays of the Cabinet Office, DfT, HMRC, DEFRA and Treasury are bulging, combined with the extra pressure of the likely second Covid wave.
It's going to be an extraordinary 100 days of politics up to Jan 1... ends/
It's going to be an extraordinary 100 days of politics up to Jan 1... ends/