Could driver shortage be Brexit bonus?

THE root cause of lorry/HGV drivers could be due to the Brexit bonus working for us?

Brexiters told EU members’ workers they were no longer welcome in the UK; they left.

Then it was discovered by Government ministers that the pay for these drivers was more than 20% lower than many UK supermarket shop assistants received.

It was highlighted by the Derby Telegraph that Derby NHS and UK’s NHS, are suffering from severe staff shortages.

Again, Brexiters vilifying EU doctors and nurses, making them feel unwanted. Then 10,000 doctors and 20,000 nurses unsurprisingly left the NHS.

The irony is, demographics of Brexit voters indicated it was those over-55s were the majority voting to leave – the very group that was hit the hardest by Covid-19, needing the most medical personal care, both in care homes and hospitals.

Heavy goods vehicle drivers being undervalued for many years has also increased their scarcity. Many retired early.

Aspiring HGV/rigid-lorry drivers, who are prepared to put aside the best part of five or more years skilling up from cars, vans, lorries and articulated vehicles. Training fees largely paid by themselves: costs mount up in the thousands. By the time proficiency is reached, over £4k will have been paid out. More, if taking the offered Government’s own training scheme.

Then discover that supermarket till cashiers can earn up to 30% more than they can for fewer hours than their 10-hour shifts. No surprises that there are over 100,000 drivers and 100,000 NHS vacancies in NHS England alone.

Now the Government is going for a visa arrangement to bring back EU truckers to stem the problem. Which raises the question, why can’t the 30,000 EU medical staff be also offered a similar visa scheme?

Of course, the Government could go for the EU single market; and solve the customs paperwork delays with much of the current disasters, including fuel scarcity.

Then, many Conservative MPs do have electric cars!

Will Woodward, Littleover