Amazing story from the FT.
1. We won't check some classes of goods coming from the EU. But they are still expected to check all classes of exports going to the EU.
Just who's taking control of whose borders?
1. We won't check some classes of goods coming from the EU. But they are still expected to check all classes of exports going to the EU.
Just who's taking control of whose borders?
2. In February Gove pledged imports from the EU would face the same customs and regulatory checks as from other countries “to keep our borders safe and secure”. Pledge now jettisoned for some food goods - making us a natural dumping ground for goods not meeting EU standards.
3. "Despite Mr Gove’s February promise to impose full checks, there were no visible preparations, such as the recruitment of vets and customs officers or the building of any new inspection facilities to handle the 10,000 trucks a day that cross the English Channel."
4. We are expected to need as many as 50,000 new customs agents to handle the extra paperwork. But despite £34m in government grants to subsidise training, less than 4,000 people have been trained in the past 18 months.
5. As we have seen from the pandemic (which has not exactly been "sent packing") the Vote Leave Government has a pretty narrow skill-set. Strong on over-promising. Paralysed when it comes to difficult choices. And of distinctly mixed competence on delivery.
6. Never a good moment to have a charlatan like Johnson in Number 10. Tragic he should be there at a moment that calls for simple, unflashy competence.
Story here. on.ft.com/2YsTOol.
Story here. on.ft.com/2YsTOol.
