A SCOTTISH food and drink chief has condemned Boris Johnson’s response to the UK’s freight crisis, warning delays could deliver a “fatal blow” to businesses.
The Prime Minister, speaking last night after France banned lorries from the UK over concerns about a new Covid-19 strain, claimed his administration had reduced the port of Dover backlog to around 170 lorries.
However, that assertion was rebutted by Highways England, which confirmed that more than 900 lorries were waiting on the M20 in Kent.
Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, James Withers, has since said that thousands of HGVs are thought to be caught up in the chaos.
In a withering statement, he said: "Contrary to an upbeat assessment from the Prime Minister yesterday, the situation has been deteriorating with a growing backlog of lorries. We understand the number of lorries currently parked up in the wrong place in the UK is now in the thousands.
"There has been a very small amount of seafood that was caught in the backlog that has managed to switch to being unaccompanied freight and get to France. But the vast bulk of the problem remains and is worsening. The UK Government should be holding a Cobra meeting again today and focusing all efforts on agreeing a protocol with the French authorities.”
❗️STATEMENT, UK/France freight blockage, Tues, 11.30am.
— James Withers (@scotfoodjames) December 22, 2020
- The situation is worse and deteriorating for food exporters.
- Protocol for freight movements needed today, but already too late for most Christmas orders. pic.twitter.com/DV6IEeEKQB
READ MORE: Food shortages fears over ports' chaos with 1500 lorries stuck in Kent
The leader of Kent County Council confirmed there are almost 3000 lorries being held in Kent waiting to cross the English Channel.
Withers warned the delays could have dire consequences for Scottish business.
He continued: "For some of our shellfish exporters, the pre-Christmas sales have now been ruined. It looks like mission impossible to get products to the big markets in Spain which are held tomorrow. That is an irrecoverable loss of income and I fear about this being a fatal blow to some of the smaller businesses after the horrendous year they have already had.
"The focus is rightly on seafood, as it is the most time-sensitive and threatened sector, but there are other food exporters and importers, from red meat to fresh veg, whose worries are significant and growing.
"Based on discussions with the insurance industry we have had, we are not aware of any companies yet who will be able to claim for losses due to delays, despite some suggestions otherwise from UK ministers yesterday. Also, the options for alternative markets are minimal. The major supermarkets in the UK are well supplied for Christmas and the hospitality sector is facing another Covid lockdown.
"Yesterday was marked by very little progress. We can't afford for the same today."
Home Secretary Priti Patel said earlier that the Government is "speaking constantly" with France to achieve a resolution "in both our interests" to get freight moving again.
But she defended the Government's handling of the pandemic, claiming ministers had been "ahead of the curve" in tackling coronavirus.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon warns of food shortages if port chaos not resolved in 24 hours
Responding to Withers's statement, Nicola Sturgeon said she was "pressing the UK government to reach agreement with France without delay, and we stand ready to help however we can".
Speaking later in Parliament, the First Minister added: "This is the peak time of year for seafood exports and the Christmas export trade is now almost certainly lost. This is devastating for our world class seafood businesses and they need our support.
"We are liaising with the sector on the need for immediate financial support and I also raised the issue of compensation at Cobra yesterday.
"However, what the sector needs most of all is for the UK Government and France to agree a protocol to get freight moving again without delay.
"If that doesn’t happen almost immediately, the sector stands to lose its New Year export trade too."
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