Chris Grayling’s comments on Question Time last night have come under fire from the public after he said there would be no border checks following Brexit.
The transport secretary's response to an audience question on lorry tailbacks around Dover due to increased customs checks post Brexit has prompted mockery from the public online, as well as push back from politicians.
Currently, internal market arrangements mean that food being imported to the UK via the Channel ports pass through checks in about 2 minutes, provided that paperwork is correct
Grayling told the audience: “We will maintain a free-flowing border at Dover, we will not impose checks in the port. It was utterly unrealistic to do so. We don’t check lorries now, we’re not going to be checking lorries in Dover in the future. Absolutely clear, it cannot happen.”
His response caused laughter in the Question Time studio, with Irish politician Mairead McGuiness interjecting: “You’re in Europe now, so there are no checks, when you leave Europe there will be checks”.
Tony Lewis, head of policy at the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health released a statement today stating that Grayling’s comments were “worrying”.
“Mr Grayling’s comments are deeply worrying as it suggests the Government simply does not have an adequate understanding of the purpose and importance of port health inspection work,” he said.
“Inspections ensure that food coming into the UK is what it says it is, is safe to eat, and meets all of our standards. They are vital in maintaining food safety in our country.
“Simply allowing vehicles to roll through our ports unchecked is real public health risk and one that will just encourage criminality and food fraud.
“The lack of appreciation for this from the Secretary of State is exasperating, and it is time the Government started taking post-Brexit border and port health issues seriously.”
