Emeritus Prof Christopher May

You'll recall that Brexit was meant to allow us to 'control' our borders, and you may also know that the checkpoint for imported meat products is 22 miles inland from Dover; drivers are required to drive to the checkpoint to have their shipments checked for compliance & disease control....

So, how many of you will be surprised that nearly 20% of shipments never turn-up for inspection, just going straight to their destination?

Not only was Brexit idiocy its also badly managed!

#Brexit
h/t FT

Mar 4 at 6:18amWeb
Show threadJaneishlyMar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 Seriously? Hahahahaha Who on earth thought that was going to work?
Show threadGeofCoxMar 4

@janeishly @ChrisMayLA6

I think the problem was that there was simply no space to build the facility at Dover - so perhaps that brexit was not only both stupid and ill-managed, but impossible !

Show threadAmy WorrallMar 4

@GeofCox @janeishly @ChrisMayLA6 I had to do entry/exit customs at Holyhead recently — it’s not 22 miles, more like 2, but it’s certainly not in the port!

The 200 page paperwork was also not fun.

Show threadEliza MBMar 4

@ChrisMayLA6

The surprise is that 80% make it to the checkpoint.

Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayMar 4

@OneInterestingFact

Ha ha, yes... true!

Show threadPeter BrownMar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 it will be US shipments which are dodging the checks
Show threadgroff 🇺🇦Mar 4

@peterbrown @ChrisMayLA6

What US meat shipments are arriving via Dover?

Show threadPeter BrownMar 4
@geoffl @ChrisMayLA6 Notaclue.
But Rotterdam is a major port of arrival in Europe and anything moving to the UK from there will probably access via Dover.
Show threadgroff 🇺🇦Mar 4

@peterbrown @ChrisMayLA6

Freight from Rotterdam goes to Grimsby, Purfleet or Felixstowe. I'm normally shipping small stuff the other way and go Harwich to Hook of Holland. I've done road from Rotterdam to Calais but only on a jolly to pick up beer in Belgium before crossing to Dover.

No reason to send a container of meat that way unless you've got money to burn. And the French view going that route as suspicious, they stopped me on the E40 and emptied the vehicle searching it for drugs.

Show threadPeter BrownMar 4
@geoffl @ChrisMayLA6 ah well, I will bow to your superior knowledge! :)
Show threadSteve WoodsMar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 Brexit is axiomatic of Westminster's overall governance - badly-managed idiocy.
Show threadFrantic 🇬🇧 + 🇪🇺Mar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 <sarcasm> I'm disappointed to learn that some of my substandard meat smuggling drivers are going to the checking facilities.
I would like to assure my customers that my dog, horse and donkey mince products will continue to be exported to the UK.
My quality control team still recommend that green bits should be trimmed and disposed of, this is not mandatory as many believe these bits improve the flavour.
</sarcasm>
Show threadgroff 🇺🇦Mar 4

@frantictdrinker @ChrisMayLA6

It was much better for substandard meat smugglers when the UK was in the EU and there were no checks at all. Substandard meat smugglers hate Brexit.

/s

Show threadgroff 🇺🇦Mar 4

@frantictdrinker @ChrisMayLA6

It's been years since I had a proper EU sourced horse lasagna.

Show threadmr_harmMar 4

@ChrisMayLA6 "hey we will let you into the country unchecked but you have to pinky-promise that you will go to the facility and probably wait for a long time before driving to your destination".

Was that the concept? I wonder why that didn't work...

Show threadswggrkllr3rdMar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 brexit was never about control of borders, it was about seperating UK from EU. pooty HAPPY !!
Show threadppscrvMar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 Are you suggesting some sort of link between the idiocy of the advocates of brexit and the idiocy of its implementers?
Show threadTerryBMar 4
@ChrisMayLA6 Arguably impossible to manage the incongruities with a reasonable level of resourcing.
Show threadgroff 🇺🇦Mar 4

@ChrisMayLA6

What was the percentage checked when the UK was in the EU?

Have exports from the EU become significantly more dangerous?