ANGUS Robertson has rubbished Tory claims that there is a HGV driver shortage across Europe.
Donald Cameron made the comment during a Brexit debate in Holyrood. Figures from the Department for Transport have shown there is a backlog of more than 56,000 applications for vocational driving licences in the UK, including HGV and bus permits, waiting to be processed.
Robertson hit back, saying: "Before today's debate I had a look on the main broadcasters of Poland, of Germany, France, of Italy, and the Netherlands.
"Not one single one of them was reporting a problem in their country in relation to shortages of shops and labour market.
"Why is it the case that it's happening here but not in those countries?"
Cameron responded: "It's a problem impacting countries, right across Europe, Germany and France are short of between 45,000 to 65,000 drivers, Poland is short of around 124,000 drivers."
Robertson's warning comes amid reports of fights breaking out on forecourts with, in one case, footage appearing on social media of a man wielding a knife, as tempers boiled over during long waits to fill up.
WATCH: Angus Robertson says Brexit 'catastrophe' is reason for supply chain crisis
UK ministers have blamed the driver shortage on the pandemic, which led to the cancellation last year of tens of thousands of tests.
But, Robertson told Debate Night that the UK Government was warned that leaving the European Union's single market and ending freedom of movement would lead to an "exodus" of HGV drivers and EU nationals working in the NHS.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel