To think Macron is ridiculous

[Dongdingdong]

These poor lorry drivers are very isolated anyway due to the nature of their jobs. The chances of them catching this new super strain and transmitting it are even slimmer than most people’s very slim chances. Macron’s decision to close the border is a hysterical overreaction and no doubt politically (Brexit) motivated. Open the borders and let them through!

'The whole situation has arisen because the government ignored warnings throughout the autumn about needing stricter restrictions. '

Jesus. The msm (and mn) were full of people handwringing over the restrictions already in place! Nazis/dictatorship/stasis iirc. No way would anyone have tolerated 'stricter restrictions' in autumn.

Numbers were improving! much of the SE were in tier 2. This is a rapidly changing situation, they only got the definitive info from NERVTAG on fri. So they therefore have to react to that.

Brexit, even.

Sorry, Brigitte.

Macron is an idiot and I hope he loses the elections big time. However, within a few days from Brexit does this really makes a big difference in case of no deal?

I think we have been shown Europe true colours for wanting to leave the EU membership. I vote remain but would leave with no deal today.

voted

Yes why can't people understand this! Right from the beginning the bannings has been on unessential travel. Food and freight is essential. So yes, Macron is a dick for pulling this stunt.

Nothing stopping freight moving from Calais to Dover (the restrictions are the other way round - problem now is that no one wants to come).

There are no restrictions on unaccompanied freight.

Open the borders and let them through!

Who on earth are you addressing, OP? Emmanuel Macron?

I don't think he's on Mumsnet.

@UnshakenNeedsStirring

Brexit was our countries biggest mistake, now we are one isolated lonely island. Thanks to all leavers,, they deserve everything that they get. We will just have to suffer but with a clear conscience.

Oh fgs

It's the drivers trying to get home I'm concerned about.
Macron should try to get them to go back ASAP then sort out the rest later on. I understand it's not perfect, but his playing games with peoples lives who live in Europe. How does anyone know that the new mutant strain didn't come from Europe originally ? Even the experts dont know.

I imagine that the delay is now around getting a procedure in place (tests) to allow foreign nationals to be repatriated. Your government should be working nonstop with its European partners to get this in place. Instead, it waited 36 hours before even bothering to hold a meeting, and is still lying about the number of trucks/ drivers affected.

It's the drivers trying to get home I'm concerned about.
Macron should try to get them to go back ASAP then sort out the rest later on

Getting an agreed system in place so that people could travel UK> France has been the stated intent on French side ever since they put in place the temporary restrictions a couple of days back...

@Mistigri

I imagine that the delay is now around getting a procedure in place (tests) to allow foreign nationals to be repatriated. Your government should be working nonstop with its European partners to get this in place. Instead, it waited 36 hours before even bothering to hold a meeting, and is still lying about the number of trucks/ drivers affected.

It's been a shit show for sure and let's hope they are tested and back in Europe soon. Those people need clarity and get moving home for Christmas etc.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Brexit, even.

Sorry, Brigitte.

Made me smile on a crap day

I agree the UK government shouldn't be confusing '174' with over a thousand, in any context in any circumstances, @Mistigri.

Getting an agreed system in place so that people could travel UK> France has been the stated intent on French side ever since they put in place the temporary restrictions a couple of days back..

Yeah, a half arsed acknowledgement of a full blown arse problem they created.

Given how this has been covered elsewhere in the World I do wonder about the influence of Mr Murdoch on some people's thinking....

It's another UK cock up , no doubting that , but I still feel for the ones stuck in their vans or lorries :(
It's a long drive home as it is. They must be desperate.

@notimagain

Given how this has been covered elsewhere in the World I do wonder about the influence of Mr Murdoch on some people's thinking....

The daily mail has whipped up their readers again. Its not great especially as it's people's lives that could be in danger stuck on motorways without any facilities etc.

@willsantausesantatize

It's the drivers trying to get home I'm concerned about. Macron should try to get them to go back ASAP then sort out the rest later on. I understand it's not perfect, but his playing games with peoples lives who live in Europe. How does anyone know that the new mutant strain didn't come from Europe originally ? Even the experts dont know.

Yes, the EU don't want CV infected drivers going back to their families across europe.

The uk govt is now arguing that it will rapid test drivers but France wants them to have the more accurate PCR.... in the time they have spent "negotiating" we could have tested the 1500 drivers, got the results and solved the issues.

@Schehezarade

I voted remain but now I’m currently doing a law degree, my opinion has changed. It’s a convoluted and bureaucratic nightmare

And it costs far too much - I didn't even know who my pampered over paid MEP was, and nor did anyone else. Whilst we are on zero hours contracts they are swanning around on free accommodation and travel, it just wasn't fit for purpose.

Four years down the line I can’t believe anyone hasn't figured out that the bus about saving money from EU membership was a complete con. •The far greater economic cost is the loss of a hugely beneficial trading bloc on your doorstep and the cost of Brexit itself.Bloomberg figures show the cost to the UK was £130 billion by the end of 2019 alone.

•	By contrast our annual contribution to the EU budget was just under 1% of GDP.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Getting an agreed system in place so that people could travel UK> France has been the stated intent on French side ever since they put in place the temporary restrictions a couple of days back..

Yeah, a half arsed acknowledgement of a full blown arse problem they created.

So genuinely out of interest can I ask if you and many others here have been OK with travel France>UK being left unrestricted if, say, Mr Castex and Mr Veran had been on TV on Saturday and Sunday saying there's a strain of the virus "out of control" in parts of France, particularly in the Pas-de-Calais Department?

"And I won't set another foot in France ever again or spend my money on their products a I will always remember what they did to us when things got tough."

For someone with dual citizenship you sure picked a side. Since you don't want anything from France I assume you'll be also returning your passport and ID and formally renounce the citizenship, right ?

Unless you're happy to keep taking advantage of those perks and be a huge frickin hypocrite.

I did a a law degree too. I voted remain largely because of Hobbes's Leviathan and because Locke is clearly delusional about the nature of man at country level (about the only thing I remember to from Jurisprudence)

The EU is a Leviathan but better in than alone without it - is the US/ China / Russia a better Leviathan to join or will we just get squashed between them...

So genuinely out of interest can I ask if you and many others here have been OK with travel France>UK being left unrestricted if, say, Mr Castex and Mr Veran had been on TV on Saturday and Sunday saying there's a strain of the virus "out of control" in parts of France, particularly in the Pas-de-Calais Department?

Dunno what you are talking about. Foreigners aren't supposed to have sovereignty and control of their borders. That's the sort of uppity behaviour that led us to leave the EU!

If there was a virus in Calais it would be here by now. Any closing of the border at this stage is useless.

Look at the boats illegally crossing the channel all the time.

What you need to know about the new variant of coronavirus in the UK

Read more: www.newscientist.com/article/2263077-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-variant-of-coronavirus-in-the-uk/#ixzz6hLrvUgCx

Believe me, some of you need to know more than the content of the DM and the rantings of xenophobes on MN