Ministers have said an international travel ban designed to isolate a new strain of coronavirus ‘out of control’ in the south east of England will not hit vaccine supply, as Boris Johnson prepares to hold a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee.
Nearly a dozen countries have now announced restrictions on travel from the UK after warnings over the new variant triggered panic on the continent.
France’s decision to also ban freight from the UK threw the government into chaos late on Sunday night.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was forced to urge hauliers not to travel to ports in Kent, as businesses warned the ban would cost them millions of pounds and even drive them out of business.
Following fears over the effect on the new coronavirus vaccine, Mr Shapps told Sky News that the disruption around the Channel ports “won’t have an impact”.
He said: “Most vaccine doesn’t come via what is called ‘Ro-Ro’, roll-on, roll-off, which is what we are talking about here.
“In other words, it’s not usually accompanied by a driver, by a haulier. It comes on those containers.
“To put this into context, there are about 6,000 vehicles we would expect, just under in Dover today, probably 4,000 would have gone across from Dover, just under about 2,000 on the Eurotunnel.
“But there is probably something like 32,000 units that would have been the daily total, so the vast majority – including virtually all the vaccine – actually comes via container and there are good supplies in the meantime.”
The SNP and the Liberal Democrats have urged the prime minister to extend the transition period, with Nicola Sturgeon saying it would “unconscionable” for him to “compound” the UK’s current coronavirus woes with a no-deal Brexit.
France’s block is due to last for at least 48 hours and has forced Dover’s ferry port and the Eurotunnel to close to traffic leaving the UK.
Germany, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium and other countries have also put restrictions in place.
The Food and Drink Federation’s chief executive, Ian Wright, warned of possible food shortages as a result of the border closure.
He said that the suspension of accompanied freight traffic from the UK to France “has the potential to cause serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies – and exports of UK food and drink.
“Continental truckers will not want to travel here if they have a real fear of getting marooned. The government must very urgently persuade the French government to exempt accompanied freight from its ban.”
Retailers also demanded the government find a speedy diplomatic resolution. “This is a key supply route for fresh produce at this time of year: the channel crossings see 10,000 trucks passing daily during peak periods such as in the run up to Christmas,” said Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium.
“We urge the UK government and the EU to find a pragmatic solution to this as soon as possible, to prevent disruption for consumers.”
However, immediate shortages should be avoided because shops have stocked up on goods ahead of Christmas, he said.
“However, any prolonged closure of the French border would be a problem as the UK enters the final weeks before the transition ends on 31 December,” he added.
