No Brexit deal will lead to gridlock at ports, MPS warn

LEADING Eurosceptic MPS have warned that British ports could face “gridlock” after Brexit unless urgent action is taken by the Government.

A report written by Charlie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, and endorsed by the influential European Research Group of Conservative backbenchers urges the Government to widen roads and speed up customs checks.

The report highlights fears that the UK could leave the European Union in March 2019 without a deal and that unless preparatory work is done now for such an eventuality, British ports could grind to a halt.

Mr Elphicke, the ERG’S treasurer, highlighted the impact of strikes by French ferry workers in 2015, which caused chaos on the roads around the port, had on the UK economy as evidence for why action was needed to prevent any repeat of problems after Brexit.

The report stressed the importance of the UK planning for a worst-case scenario to ensure that trade can continue to flow through the nation’s ports even if a deal cannot be done with Brussels.

It warned: “Gridlock at the channel ports will mean gridlock in the UK economy.”

Mr Elphicke argues in favour of widening the M20 and dualling the M2/A2, introducing new Brexit laws to speed up infrastructure projects, and better technology to speed up customs checks.

The report also suggests that the Le Touquet border agreement with France should be expanded to include cooperation on customs matters.