Thread by @pmdfoster

If you watch @michaelgove
from 12.15 or so, you can see the government's blame game here.

If there are queues at Dover in a 'no deal' it will be because of business's failure to ensure paperwork is in order.

It will NOT be because... 1/

parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/2e…

@michaelgove - a large proportion of freight forwarders are smallish companies that don't have the bandwidth and cash to do the declarations

- OR because the UK will be short of 10,000-20,000 customs clearing agents that know how to do this sh*t /2

https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1159167102617620480

@michaelgove - Or because the 245,000 businesses who trade ONLY with the EU have absolutely no experience of clearing international borders.

- Or because the government has provided risible levels of information, training and investment to now to assist them /3

@michaelgove - OR because, per a senior business leader of my acquaintance, it takes business a year to hear about new stuff, five years to adapt and ten to really get used to things. But as we know anything is possible by Oct 31 with enough gumption. I'm thinking of a moonshot /4

@michaelgove In any event, it will definitely NOT be because the government has forced a 'no deal' #Brexit for its own political ends - and in defiance of business interests and pleading. /5

@michaelgove It's one thing to say 'things will be bumpy' in a 'no deal' #Brexit - but worth it in the end.

Another to say it will be bumpy, and if businesses catch a few flat tyres on the road to the sunny uplands, well, that's on them.

Good weekend all /6 ENDS