‘It’s going to be a nightmare’: confusion surrounds post-Brexit trade tech

Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover in Kent

Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA

In a Parliamentary committee in late November, those noises came from Emma Churchill, director general of the Border and Protocol Delivery Group. When asked by Hilary Ben if there was likely to be significant disruption at the border in January, she said: “I think the level of disruption will depend to a large extent on the level of trader readiness.”

But Bartlett says: “It should be HMRC being ready, and their systems software developers being ready, the trade being ready. It should be treated as a whole, not as individual pieces, because it can start to feel we’re being lined up to be blamed for the problems that will inevitably happen.”

A Cabinet Office spokesman said the Government continues to work "intensively" with key delivery partners. "The delivery of IT systems necessary for the end of the Brexit transition period is on track," they said. 

Back at the Ashford Truck Stop, the consensus is the task ahead is not impossible. But it does require a level of preparedness drivers say has been missing throughout the transition period.   

“Nobody’s got a clue,” said Nick, wearing an orange fluorescent jacket. He believes the process doesn’t need to be as difficult as it is, especially because he still remembers when Europe was carved up by borders.

“This is nothing new to us old truckers,” he said, on his way to refill a giant water bottle. 

“Before Poland opened up, the queues at the border of Poland were 50 miles long. We did it before and we’ll do it again.”