FEARS have been raised over the damage which could be caused by Brexit in less than two weeks’ time, as the clock ticks down on the chance for the UK to strike a deal with the EU.
Scotland’s Brexit Secretary warned the continuing uncertainty over what will happen on January 1, when the transition period comes to an end, was “utterly disastrous”.
Meanwhile a report from MPs said a failure by the UK Government to mitigate disruption would result in the “worst possible start to the New Year” for many people and businesses.
Christmas stockpiling and Brexit uncertainty once again caused huge queues of lorries in Kent yesterday.
READ MORE: The UK is rehearsing the Brexit nightmare scenario - here's what it involves
Details also emerged of a major operation carried out by the UK Government to test the resources in place to deal with possible disruption caused by the ending of the Brexit period in just 11 days time.
The scenarios included ferries being confronted by blockades of fishing boats from France and Spain, medicines due to be delivered to hospitals overwhelmed by Covid-19 being stuck in traffic and criminal gangs trying to hijack a consignment of vaccines.
Other situations tested as part of the Whitehall exercise Operation Capstone included the sudden closure of a large care home provider – due to a weak pound and inability to hire staff from the European Union – and protests by pro and anti-Brexit groups.
A government source was quoted in the report in The Times saying there are “contingency plans in place for absolutely everything”.
However, Scotland’s Brexit Secretary Michael Russell said it was not possible to be fully prepared.
He said the Scottish Government was working hard to try to mitigate the damage of Brexit, but added: “We shouldn’t be in this position.
“The fact we are now within a fortnight – with Christmas intervening –and not knowing what the situation is, is utterly disastrous. “[The UK Government] need to recognise that this is a problem of their making – it did not need to happen.
“And even if they wanted to pursue Brexit they had the opportunity to extend the transition period and refused to do so.”
Talks on a post-Brexit trade deal have continued over the weekend, with both sides warning that the chances of agreement remain in the balance.
On Friday, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said there are “just a few hours left” for the UK and EU to agree a trade deal.
The European Parliament has been pressing for an agreement by Sunday so it can ratify any deal before the current Brexit transition period ends on December 31.
In a bid to avoid cross-Channel disruption in January, businesses are stockpiling goods before the new year, in addition to the usual Christmas rush. Yesterday a line of HGVs stretched up to five miles on the M20 as freight drivers headed for the Eurotunnel.
The queue along the left-hand lane of the motorway started in the Ashford area and stretched several miles to the Eurotunnel entrance at Folkestone.
There were also long lines of HGVs along the M20 between Capel-le-Ferne to the cross-Channel port of Dover.
The Commons Brexit Committee has raised a series of concerns about the UK’s “overall state of readiness”.
In a report published yesterday, they said MPs decisions had been made “too late”, while communications with businesses had been “patchy at best”.
Committee chair Hilary Benn said the Government still could not provide business, traders and citizens with “certainty”.
“At this late stage, the Government must be ready to implement contingency plans where necessary to mitigate the effects of any disruption,” he said. “Failure to do so would mean the worst possible start to the new year for many people and businesses who are already experiencing the toughest of times.”
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