No deal Brexit - more prepared than we think?

[elprup]

I posted a thread on here recently about being terrified of a no deal Brexit. Since then I’ve felt a little bit reassured after reading this article about how Britain is preparing/prepared for a no deal. Sorry in advance for the Daily Mail link!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7318477/So-does-No-Deal-Brexit-really-mean.html

It does sound like we’re more together than I’d thought (although I may just be wishful thinking, hopelessly naive, clutching at straws or all of the above!)

What are people’s thoughts?

Bercows - Why not?

Re ports, one thing Justin King was saying that even if controls are relaxed the process will inevitably take longer than it does under current arrangements and the sheer volume of lorries would mean inevitable delays. And because there is only a limited number of lorries available to transport goods in both directions the cumulative effect will be huge.

Don't think we're prepared at all. Was reading about the Mercosur/EU trade agreement that is just about in place. It's taken 20 years to negotiate. 20 years. With seasoned, experienced EU negotiators, not the shower we appear to have in place.

Twigthewonderkid - He also said he wouldn't be stockpiling as "that would be a terrible thing to do".

I was appalled - all this bollocks of regaining sovereignty yet getting goods into the UK is dependant of foreword planning by the EU!

That was always going to be down to them to sort out. The queue for goods coming in to the UK was always going to be on the other side of the Channel.

The planning they're doing won't speed our imports up though - it's just the equivalent of our Operation Stack - the queue for drivers to hand in their paperwork before getting on the ferry/train to come over here. It doesn't replace the border checks over here. On this side the paperwork's meant to be checked again, any import duty and VAT collected and any physical checks carried out. There are meant to be temporary arrangements to speed this process but they rely on everybody doing their job right to start with and they're not expected to remove the problem altogether.

I'm going to quote from that hilarious Port of Dover press release, because it could not be more Brexit.

"The Port of Dover, as with our sister ports in France and our ferry partners, are prepared for the 31st of October. Merchants, border agencies and highway authorities also have pivotal roles to play in ensuring the system continues to operate smoothly.”

In other words, we've done what we can. When it's all a giant fuck up, it's not our fault. You can blame the government, the highways agency and traders.

Yes, the Port of Dover is 'prepared' - in that they've done everything they can do to put systems in place to cope. That doesn't mean that queues and delays aren't inevitable, just that they've planned for them - not letting lorries clog up the approach roads to the port etc. and streamlining their systems wherever possible.

Keeping the traffic moving freely across borders will mean balancing any requirements for declarations around the realities of just-in-time logistics and flexible routing of lorries, and crystallising those requirements in sufficient time for merchants to develop the capability to meet them.

It took me a bit of time to unravel what he'd said there: "Somebody needs to decide quickly on a system which balances the needs of the hauliers (and the customers) to keep the goods moving with the need to make customs declarations".

I infer that he doesn't believe that such a system is already in place.

Compare in contrast with this twitter post from the Europe correspondant at that well known hotbed of remoaners the Daily Telegraph:

"So. The number I’ve been given privately by industry is that there are currently approx 2,000 customs clearing agents. The estimate is we’ll need 20,000. Even if that’s off by 50% (and no reason to believe it is) still massive gulf. /1"

@Mamamia456
He did. He also said there is about 10 days' supply of fresh food in the UK. Stockpiling would be pointless because with only 50% of lorries etting through (from gvernment souces) it will inevitably be supplies of perishable goods like fruit & veg which will be most affected.

@FishesaPlenty exactly. People need to actually analyse what is being said rather than take it at face value.

Twigthewonderkid - Well if stockpiling is pointless perhaps you'd better tell that to some of the people on these threads.

Mistigri - You can come to whatever conclusions you like about the statement, it doesn't make any difference to me.

I've written press releases before. I can spot twisty bullshit abdicating responsibility that superficially looks fiiiiiiiine. I've written them myself in the past

I respect your opinion bellingsurge but I will remain optimistic.

@Mamamania456, a few people filling their garages now with extra loo roll and tinned food is irrelevant and insignificant in comparison to the food shortages which will ensue in face of the inadequate no-deal preparations that are being made.

Mum's neighbour says "it won't affect us" I've just stopped off at the local independent greengrocers and he said he wasn't looking forward to Brexit at all. "We import so much. Ok we've got plenty of British stuff at the moment but..." He's expensive as it is. One of the 3 banana companies he uses has got bust. I'm not sure if that is linked or not though. I'll look it up and see what's what.

Twigthewonderkid - Well according to Justin King it's not irrelevant or insignificant, it's a terrible thing to do!

@Mamamia456 , Justin King isn't responsible for feeding my daughter, I am. I'll use my own judgment, thanks. And he isn't responsible for keeping the peace in my Tommy Robinson loving neighbourhood which also has a large Bangladeshi immigrant population. So l'll make sure we don't need to go into town if it kicks off, even though, Justin King says it's fiiiiiiine.

@Mamamia456, what is a terrible thing to do? Filling your cupboards?
I read that approx 44% of households are stockpiling. As discussed, stockpiling means different things to different people, but, have you noticed any difference in what is available in the shops?

Ok so I just found the article. He says within a week of no deal the shelves are likely to be empty. But he's not stockpiling because that's a terrible thing to do.
Yeah right! If he did say that, he is probably confusing having a buffer in the larder/freezer with building a warehouse in the garden.

Well it is terrible in that it shouldn't be necessary in a civilised country in the 21st cenrteury, should it?!

Neither should food banks or charity provided children's breakfasts/ lunches but it seems they are completely acceptable and normal. What has our great country (ies) become, and what the fuck are we doing about it?

all we can do at this stage is look out for ourselves. This means getting your own personal situation into as good a place as it possibly can be. If that means stockpiling a few boxes of food and buying in advance the products that you need to keep your household running then its far better to do that now than when everyone is panicking and trying to clear the shelves.

Bellinisurge - But I thought Justin Kng was an expert in his field and his opinion was based on his extensive professional knowledge, or do we only listen to him when it's something that remainers agree with. These brexit threads do make me chuckle at times.

Again, @Mamamia456 . Does Justin King live in my town? There are plenty of people on my so called side that I don't agree with. Perhaps if you realised that, you'd have a better understanding of the mess we are in.