Transport Secretary: Brexit Not To Blame
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has reportedly claimed that Brexit is not the cause of the driver shortage, as the crisis continues to disrupt UK logistics.
The minister told Sky News: “I have seen people point to Brexit as the culprit here when in fact they are wrong”.
The claim comes in contrast to the views of many major transport associations, including the RHA. Backed my many leading supply chain bodies, they have been lobbying government to allow temporary visas for foreign nationals after a haulage industry exodus post Brexit.
An estimated 20,000 foreign drivers were lost to the UK during this year’s Brexit transition, while the total shortfall is now reported to be around 100,000.
This month, the government announced they were working on plans to reduce the HGV test process to enable 20,000 more drivers to qualify per year, which is widely considered to NOT be a short-term fix to the crisis.
Meanwhile, the problem continues to disrupt supply lines throughout the UK, with food, drink and now fuel being delayed in reaching retail outlets and impacting our everyday lives.
