Brace yourself for a ‘bumpy’ EU exit, Gove warns Britain
Tory minister admits there will be ‘some disruption’ as transition period ends
BRITAIN has been warned to expect major turbulence this week as it exits the comfort of the transition period and is hit by a wave of EU red tape.
Michael Gove admitted there would be “some disruption” for travellers and businesses as the country ended its 47-year membership of the Euro club.
The Cabinet Office Minister, with a deal of understatement, said there would be some “bumpy moments” as the 11-month transition period ended and the full reality of Brexit finally took shape.
His comments came as ambassadors from the EU27 unanimously approved the provisional application of the historic UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement, without tariffs or quotas and worth some £670 billion, and as MPS and peers prepared to vote on it tomorrow.
With Labour’s support, it should pass comfortably. The European Parliament is expected to ratify it next month.
UK businesses are being encouraged to make sure they understand the new rules on the importing and exporting of goods, including the different rules that
apply to trade with Northern Ireland, and to consider how they will make customs declarations on trade with the EU27.
It emerged online shoppers who buy items from the EU valued at more than £390 will from this week have to pay customs duties. Handling fees and VAT could also apply on some items. This means
that parcels face being held up in post offices until those fees and duties have been paid.
Mr Gove encouraged travellers to EU destinations from Friday to make sure they have at least six months left on their passports, take out comprehensive travel insurance and check their mobile phone provider’s roaming charges.
He said: “I’m sure there will be bumpy moments but we are there to try to do everything we can to smooth the path.”
The minister warned businesses that time was now “very short” to make the final preparations before the transition period came to a close at 11pm on Thursday.
“The nature of our new
relationship with the EU – outside the Single Market and Customs Union – means that there are changes that businesses and citizens need to get ready for.
“We know that there will be some disruption as we adjust to new ways of doing business
with the EU, so it is vital that we all take the necessary action now,” he added.
But Mr Gove’s words were denounced by Labour and the SNP.
Rachel Reeves, his Labour Shadow, said: “The Government is treating its own incompetence as inevitable.
“There is no reason why the deal the Government ended up with had to be run so close to the wire, nor why this period must be bumpy, had the Government prepared properly.
“But, instead, they refused to engage with business on preparations and dodged repeated questions from
Labour for months on how many customs agents were recruited and ready, and what IT systems are properly in place.”
Alison Thewliss for the SNP described Mr Gove’s comments about disruption and bumpy moments as the “understatement of the century,” warning the country would be faced with a “mountain of extra costs, red tape and barriers to trade”.
The Glasgow MP declared: “The Tory Government is wilfully damaging people’s jobs, businesses and the economy at the worst possible time during a global pandemic and economic recession.”
She argued a hard Tory Brexit could cut Scotland’s GDP by as much as 6.1 per cent and cost the nation £9 billion.
“It’s no wonder the Tories are desperate to rush it through with as little scrutiny as possible,” Ms Thewliss insisted.
The SNP’S Treasury spokeswoman added: “People across Scotland and the UK will also see their EU benefits gradually stripped away, including our precious freedom of movement rights to live, work, study and travel freely across Europe, and will be hit with increased costs, including travel insurance and roaming charges.
“If people and businesses are unprepared, it is because the Tories have left it to the last minute on their own arbitrary deadline and are now imposing a hard Brexit, causing months of uncertainty for those that rely on our relationship with the EU.”
As part of the preparation for Brexit proper, an agreement has been reached for a Dumfries and Galloway airfield to be used by hundreds of lorries in case of any post-brexit disruption at Cairnryan port.
The Scottish Government has signed a lease with Stair Estates, owner of Castle Kennedy airfield in Stranraer, beginning on Friday as part of Operation Overflow, a contingency plan developed by Transport Scotland and partners including Police Scotland, P&O and Stena.
Up to 240 goods vehicles can park at the site with welfare facilities if port capacity is too high as freight continues to travel between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Michael Matheson, the Scottish Government’s Transport Secretary, said: “At this stage we do not expect a significant increase in traffic or delays at Cairnryan, but it is essential that we are prepared for every eventuality.”
As Westminster prepares for a landmark vote on the trade deal, it emerged that most of Northern Ireland’s 18 MPS are not expected to back it.
Earlier this week, the SNP made clear it would oppose the trade deal, which, it claimed, would be disastrous for Scotland. As with the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, it was announced that members at Stormont will convene tomorrow to discuss the trade deal.
Meanwhile, the SNP attacked the UK Government for failing to secure continued UK access to the European Arrest Warrant and for securing only limited access to agencies such as Europol and Eurojust after Brexit. Such moves, it argued, were one of the most damaging aspects of the deal and meant the UK was heading into 2021 as a less safe country.
People will see their EU benefits gradually stripped away