Brexit to blame, says German contender

THE favourite to become Germany’s next chancellor has lectured Britain about its lorry driver crisis despite Europe’s biggest economy suffering its own huge shortfall.

Olaf Scholz, the candidate for the centre-left SPD, blamed Brexit and the end of free movement for the shortages that have crippled supply chains and led to petrol panic-buying.

Mr Scholz risked prompting a row with Westminster despite his country also struggling with its own shortfall of between 45,000 and 60,000 drivers. Mr Scholz said: “We worked very hard to convince the British not to leave the union. Now they decided different and I hope they will manage the problems coming from that.”

He conceded that the shortfalls could also be driven by pay and working conditions

‘The British decided different and I hope they will manage the problems coming from that’

for HGV drivers. “It might have something to do with the question of wages and this is something that has to be thought about,” Mr Scholz added.

The transport industry has argued that the end of cheap labour from Europe is just one of a number of factors causing the crisis. Poor pay, bad working conditions and a lack of training have also been blamed for the shortfalls suffered across the region, with experts warning that the Government’s plan for emergency visas will not solve the issue.