No-deal could see French ‘go slow’ at ports, says Raab
BRITAIN is priming itself for a French ‘ go slow’ at ports designed to cripple trade in the event of a ‘ no- deal’ Brexit, Dominic Raab said yesterday.
The Brexit Secretary raised the alarming prospect as he further warned that Brussels could be ‘deliberately intransigent’ in the final stage of talks and increase the risk of no deal.
In a combative performance in the Commons, he also told MPs they would be personally responsible for no-deal chaos if they vote down a deal brought back by Prime Minister Theresa May.
It comes with negotiations on a knife edge. Talks have temporarily ground to a halt with only intermittent ‘contacts’ at technical level between the UK and Brussels.
Mr Raab outlined preparations being made in the event of a no deal, including a recruitment drive to deal with the millions more customs declarations that would be required in the event of a ‘ cliffedge’ exit.
But he told MPs: ‘We also need to prepare for the worst case scenario, whereby the authorities at Calais are deliberately directing a go-slow approach, by supporting a diversion of the flow to more amenable ports in other countries.’ He added that Britain will ensure it has money and investment in place, as well as ‘cooperation with businesses and the port authorities – not just in the UK but also in Belgium and the Netherlands and other parts of the EU’.
France has long been the most belligerent country during talks, according to diplomats, and recently warned of increased customs checks at Calais in the event of no deal.
It has also said Britons could need visas to visit the country after Brexit and French president Emmanuel Macron has even threatened to boycott summits if Mrs May does not cave in on demands over the Irish border issue.
Mr Raab was asked by former Tory minister, Sir Patrick McLoughlin, whether Britain will still leave the EU if MPs vote down Mrs May’s deal and if those who do would be responsible for any ensuing chaos.
The Brexit Secretary said: ‘Every member in this House will have a choice to make between the good deal we’re confident we will be bringing back and the alternatives.’
An EU Commission spokesman declined to comment when asked if it was being ‘deliberately intransigent’, but added: ‘We want to reach a deal on an orderly withdrawal.’