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2019 Johnson Confident Trade Truck Drivers Hold Brexit

23rd, Protest On Border

October Deal Can Be Secured

| Within 14 Months
EXAMINER oris Johnson has insisted 14 same determination and flexi- now gone from the package,

the best way to give us that
months will be enough time bility to ensure we do reach a
Bto secure a trade agreement deep and special partnership
IRISH couldstillleavewithoutadeal. with the European Union reassurance is to ensure a prop-
withtheEU,amidconcernstheUK through a free trade agreement
er role for Parliament in the
process in the future negotia-
The British Prime Minister before we allow the implemen- tions.”
was challenged by former tation period to come to an Labour MP Seema Malhotra More than 150 lorry drivers have staged a protest at the Irish
British Conservative minister end?” asked the British Prime border in a bid to highlight the importance of free-flowing move-
David Gauke to commit to Mr Johnson said he had dis- Minister whether he has given ment.
show “determination and flexi- cussed the issue with the EU as assurances to some MPs that if A convoy of trucks made their way from Donegal and crossed
bility” to ensure a free trade they were interested in trade talks fail in December the border into Co Derry.
agreement with the EU is Britain’s timetable and as to 2020, the UK will leave the EU Truck drivers taking part said they want to show how the free
secured before the implementa- whether 14 months is enough on no-deal terms. movement of freight is vital to businesses and trade.
tion period concludes at the end time. She said: “Mr Speaker, have The protest was brought to a standstill at the main border
of December 2020. He said: “I think it is members of the Prime route, as hundreds of drivers and their supporters turned out to
Mr Johnson acknowledged enough. I think we can do it in Minister’s cabinet given those “show the world” what custom checks and infrastructure would
the time available was a “blister- 14 months.” assurances, and if indeed no- look like.
ing pace” but maintained a suc- Mr Johnson explained the deal is not being ruled about by There are about 13,800 border crossings every day between
cessful outcome over trade can UK is in “perfect regulatory supporting the Prime Minister Ireland and the North.
be achieved. alignment” with the EU today, why won’t he tell the George Mills, from the Irish Road Haulage Association, said:
Critics of Mr Johnson’s draft already, adding there are zero- country the truth?” “We don’t have to fill out any documentation or electronics or
deal with the EU believe it tariff and zero-quota arrange- Mr Johnson replied: “May I otherwise to cross this border, which we need to do every day of
could still result in a no-deal ments. respectfully say to her as I say the week because of where we live.
Brexit if trade talks fail to make He went on: “We have a to all honorable friends and “We can’t go anywhere without crossing the border, even to
the required progress next fantastic opportunity to do a members, that if they wish to do our business with Dublin.
year. free trade deal. avoid a no-deal outcome, the “After Brexit we will be crossing an EU/non-EU frontier and
Speaking in the Commons, “Yes, 14 months is a blister- single best thing we can all do is that’s going to create so many problems.
Independent Mr Gauke, who ing pace but we can get it vote for this deal tonight.” “We want to show the world how easy it is now.
“The people of the UK don’t seem to regard the border as
lost the Tory whip after done.” Liberal Democrat MP Vince important.
rebelling over Brexit, said: Former Conservative chan- Cable added: “Can he reiterate “Only 2% of their trade crosses this border, but it’s nearly
“The Prime Minister said he cellor Philip Hammond, now what seemed to be his assur- 100% of our trade that has to cross this border, so it’s a big con-
wanted to leave with a deal and sitting as an Independent, earli- ance that the transition will be cern to us.
he has shown determination er said: “Before I decide extended until his free trade “We don’t want to go back to any form of regulation that
and flexibility to reach a deal, whether to jump on the Prime agreement has been conclud- impacts that form of free movement of traffic.
for which he deserves credit. Minister’s bus, I’d like to be just ed?” “Our nearest port is Derry and Belfast, and they must bring up
“He will be aware, howev- a little clearer about the desti- Mr Johnson said: “Mr all our oil, coal, gas, animal feed, timber, coal.
er, unless we reach a free trade nation. Speaker, I think if he’s worried “The nearest alternative is 200 miles away in Co Limerick that
agreement in the next stage of “I’d like to be reassured that about a cliff edge, and I’m not can handle that amount of cargo.
negotiations that there is a risk it remains the deep and special frankly as worried as he is “If a ship load of coal comes into Derry and it’s bound for a
that Great Britain will leave the partnership with the European because I think we’ll do a great non-EU country it could possibly be of a different grade or qual-
implementation period with- Union that we promised the free trade deal by then, the best ity than coal coming into a EU country.
out a deal with the European people in our 2017 election thing he can do, and I’m look- “How will they divide that coal or animal feed? It will cause a
Union. manifesto. ing at him carefully to see if he lot more problems than they realize.”
“Can the Prime Minister “And in the absence of the might have this in his heart, is to Truck driver Tom Doherty said it is important to show what
commit today to show the UK-wide backstop which has vote for this deal tonight.” C a hard border would look like.
Mr Doherty, 57, who travels to Dublin every day from the
Inishowen area to deliver fruit, vegetables and potatoes, said
truck drivers would face “chaos” and “mayhem” at custom
checks.
“I did it up to 1990 and it wasn’t nice,” he said.
“We don’t want to go back to those days of queuing at the
border.
“We also don’t know what tariffs we will have to pay on pota-
toes. If I want to avoid crossing the border we have to go by
Sligo, and it’s an extra three hours driving.
“Who will foot the extra cost? The farmer, customers or me?
“People don’t want a border, full stop. The younger genera-
tion don’t know what it is going to be like.”
Mr Doherty, who has been driving trucks for 30 years, is also
concerned about the impact on the number of young people
who want to work in the industry.
“They’re not going to want to sit at the border for hours and
I wouldn’t expect them to,” he added. C