Brexit: EU must end ‘delusions of grandeur’ says Kerr
The former Brexit Party politician said the proposed grace period where hauliers would not be subject to customs rules for several months is not being enforced. Mr Kerr added if it were then the chaos surrounding imports and exports via the European Union could be easily remedied. Andrew Kerr claimed the failure to implement the grace period and the ensuing disruption have been used as a “stick” to keep other EU member states threatening to depart the bloc from leaving.
Speaking on Russia Today, presenter Bill Dod asked the ex-MEP: “How long will this chaos at the border last?
“I spoke to a couple of haulier companies last week and they are in serious trouble now, losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“This isn’t just a short-term teething problem is it, some predict this will go on for a long time.”
Mr Kerr replied: “Bill, I’m pleased you brought it up, I know it wasn’t part of our initial spec for the interview.
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“Remember we were supposed to have this grace period, didn’t you hear about that?
“Well clearly the grace period has not worked and if I was a businessman or if I was trying to be neutral for the EU and the UK I’d be like come on guys let’s have a proper grace period.
“And if people haven’t got the paperwork right, give them a warning and say in two or three months we won’t be as easy going.
“But this smacks of a deliberate intention to harm the UK so they can use this as a stick to threaten other countries that might be thinking of leaving the EU.”
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Mr Kerr added: “It’s not necessary, it’s not appropriate and it’s grossly unfair and highly damaging to the hauliers and I hope the government will reimburse or compensate them for the losses they’re going through.”
Hauliers across the UK have been hit by new custom rules which require new inspections and paperwork.
Many are without adequate documentation and find themselves stuck at ports.
Last week, it was revealed some hauliers are choosing to bypass Wales and England entirely and travel directly to their destinations by taking longer routes.
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Ferry operators like Stena say it is not becoming profitable to operate at the now quieter port of Holyhead in North Wales.
The port was the second busiest in the UK in 2019.
Simon Palmer of Stena said: “This weekend we have to go where the demand is and unfortunately we will be taking the Stena Estrid off this route from Dublin to Holyhead and moving it directly from Dublin to Cherbourg.
“We have to go where the freight demand is.”
The Stena Estrid is the company’s latest Superferry which can carry 120 cars and over a thousand passengers.
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