Ms Soubry wrote: “Arriving at Faro airport Portugal. V lengthy queues for non-EU arrivals ie British travellers however Irish passengers whizz by way of.
“Delays at passport management are a direct results of Brexit – UK passports should be doubly checked & stamped. If anybody tells you in any other case they’re mendacity.”
However inside hours her feedback have attracted hundreds of feedback, with many individuals dismissing her claims of lengthy strains.
One consumer, John Merricks, mentioned: “We arrived on Thursday. We have been by way of passport management in 5 minutes.” Consumer Craig Cowley added: “Sure agree, however the #brexit voters needed harder border controls. But additionally there’s been a strike by Portuguese border management at Faro. At Lisbon on Friday the queue was about 30mins.”
The talk over how lengthy it takes for passports to be checked has been exacerbated by miles-long queues snaking by way of the Kent countryside within the run as much as Easter. 1000’s of passengers spent hours making an attempt to get by way of the port and into the continent, with many journeys delayed or ruined.
Because the chaos at Dover gained widespread consideration final weekend and on Good Friday – hypothesis arose as to why there have been such delays, with Brexit being the more than likely contender.
Chatting with Sophie Ridge final Sunday, House Secretary Suella Braverman mentioned: “I don’t assume it’s honest to say that that is an hostile impact of Brexit.
“I believe we’ve got seen we’ve got had a few years now since leaving the European Union and there’s been, on the entire, excellent cooperation and processes.
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“However at acute occasions, when there’s numerous strain crossing the Channel whether or not the tunnel or the ferries, then I believe there’s all the time going to be a backup.”
Every day Categorical readers have been requested in a ballot whether or not Brexit was accountable for the disruption at Dover. Round 69 % (4,468 individuals) mentioned that Brexit was to not blame.
Nonetheless, 31 % (1,987) mentioned it was. One consumer, TheGreatValiantMan, mentioned: “You vote for a tough border and extra checks and guess what occurs? I do know it’s troublesome to grasp but when your Authorities indicators a deal that calls for the date in your passport is checked, after which stamped, it tends to take a bit longer than it used to.”
In June 2022, travellers queued of their tons of at airport terminals, London Mayor Sadiq Khan mentioned Brexit was accountable.
The London Mayor mentioned the issue was “self-inflicted”. Chatting with BBC1’s Sunday Morning, he mentioned: “What you are able to do very simply is to verify those that have been in these jobs earlier than, who’ve gone again to their nation of origin within the EU, are inspired to return again.
“What the federal government’s bought to do is get across the desk with the aviation sector, the airports, those that run the airways, to see what precisely their issues are.
“If there’s a scarcity, change the listing to verify these [workers] can come simpler than different occupations. That is self-inflicted from the federal government. It isn’t about Covid. That is about Brexit plus Covid.”
Practically a 12 months on and the federal government has mentioned that Brexit might have performed a task within the queues.
In an announcement, they acknowledged that “new processes” introduced in after Brexit have had an influence. The spokesman mentioned: “Clearly we recognise there are new processes in place.
“That’s why authorities got a very long time to organize for the brand new checks together with through the transition interval, in fact, and we’re in dialogue with our French counterparts about how we are able to additional enhance the circulation of site visitors.
“We imagine that we’ve got put in measures to mitigate any of the challenges which will crop up – that’s giving authorities further time to organize, and dealing with our French counterparts in growing our means to maneuver site visitors and passengers by way of freely.”
Because the UK will get nearer in the direction of the height summer season vacation season in just some months’ time, there are considerations the issues at each coastal and airports might proceed.
