Dover is closed to outbound traffic

This looks like a blockade on cynical political grounds. We can’t agree on a post Brexit trade arrangement so they won’t let our lorries in. I doubt COVID has much to do with it

Can’t help thinking there is a bit of Brexit malice there...

growstuff is spot on. France is just the latest of many countries closing their borders to us - and the mutated virus. We'd do the same if it were spreading so rapidly in another country.

UK flights to many countries are stopped as well:

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-russia-and-india-joins-growing-list-of-countries-to-ban-travel-from-uk-over-mutated-strain-fears-12169044

Jayt

This looks like a blockade on cynical political grounds. We can’t agree on a post Brexit trade arrangement so they won’t let our lorries in. I doubt COVID has much to do with it

And Russia, India, Canada? No doubt more by now.

Well, covid has exacerbated the Dover problems, but sadly, those of us who predicted this have been told to get over it/be positive/have faith in our government/stop being unpatriotic, and generally ganged up against and criticised. Why on earth do you think our government built the Farage Garages in Kent? A few splutterings from Brexiteers on FB who are astonished to discover that France, Holland, Belgium and other EU countries are able to close their borders and exercise their sovereignty.

While you're all selfishly wondering how you're going to live without a lettuce for Christmas . . What about the lorry drivers????
Think how you would feel stuck in a lorry no toilet facilities no food or water unable to keep warm as you could run out of fuel.

Have to admit to changing my plans and shopping this morning to avoid any shortages. I only bought what I needed and as I live in veg growing Lincolnshire will pick up fresh veg from the farm shop nearer to the weekend.

I don't blame France or any other EU country that's been snubbed. I knew it would happen and it serves us right. How anyone can shun those that supported us through wars I don't understand. Is this all the thanks they get ?
The main aim is to remain friendly surely ?

Sweetchile my husband is a lorry driver, luckily he’s only driving in the uk this week - phew. Christmas without my daughter and my husband would have been disastrous

It's for 48 hours while they sort out a solution - such as testing of drivers, which is something that should have been happening anyway.

Can anyone remember how long the French farmers blockades of the ports and roads lasted? Google mentions 2015. It came up in conversation and we couldn't remember how long it went on for.

Of course there were fewer goods crossings five years ago and no preparation for it either, just curious.

Sweetchile; I am very concerned for the lorry drivers and their families. The lorry drivers and RHA have been warning about this potential problem since 2016 and have been patronised, dismissed and disregarded and if I was you, I too would be very angry. I also understand that apart from all the paperwork not being ready as promised, that something like 60,000 people drive lorries for a living in the UK and there are only 8000 permits.

EllanVannin

I don't blame France or any other EU country that's been snubbed. I knew it would happen and it serves us right. How anyone can shun those that supported us through wars I don't understand. Is this all the thanks they get ?
The main aim is to remain friendly surely ?

Those that supported us through the wars, hmmmm.

???Supported us through wars???? Seriously??

Well, that’s a new one! Supported us through wars indeed.

Oh well, it gave me a laugh reading that EV

Is someone lacing the jam on your crumpets EV?

Sweetchile

While you're all selfishly wondering how you're going to live without a lettuce for Christmas . . What about the lorry drivers????
Think how you would feel stuck in a lorry no toilet facilities no food or water unable to keep warm as you could run out of fuel.

The government is guilty of gross mismanagement.

They were warned 4YEARS ago.

They have managed to build a couple of lorry parks on flood plains, neither of which are Up and running. and in any case spend a lot time acting as swimming pools.

None of the software for customs and border control is ready and not expected to be ready for months.

Anyone else would be let go by their employer, but we have 4 more dreadful years to watch as this country falls apart under the most incompetent set of apologise for ministers it has ever been this countries misfortune to witness.

145 Polish pilots flew in the RAF ... and then there was Russia.

Whitewavemark2

It seems that the penny has finally dropped. We have very little push back from posters denying reality and claiming project fear.

Be nice to welcome them back into the reality fold?

Do stop claiming ‘It’s Brexit!’ whitewave, I credit you with more intelligence than that.

This country's obsession with the war by those who had nothing to do with it is beyond detrimental to this country.

Is Russia in the EU now growstuff !

Galaxy

This country's obsession with the war by those who had nothing to do with it is beyond detrimental to this country.

Don't forget 1966!

lemongrove

Is Russia in the EU now growstuff !

No, but but part of it is in Europe. I was just pointing out the European countries which helped the Allied war effort (and was scratching my head somewhat and was desperate).

They thought it was all over

I don’t blame countries for stopping entries at their borders or stopping flights because of the new mutated virus.
France will soon have to put something in place though as most of the lorries waiting in Dover are from France or EU countries wanting to get home.