The news that several British ports, amongst those serving as 30 designated border control posts, are not ready for the next wave of post Brexit bureaucracy – import checks from EU – due in July is again deeply worrying and is exacerbated by a lack of any communications on a contingency plan B.

It seems staggering that with less that four full months to go until 1st July, locations such as Portsmouth, Purfleet on Thames in Essex, and Killingholme on the Humber have only just seen construction begin; and that The National Farmers Union (NFU) is warning that livestock freight and trade could cease as no channel ports are planning facilities to check incoming livestock. Issues seem to be further compounded by the potential locations of some inland border checkpoints have not been announced.

Again all of this will have an unacceptable impact upon business and trade and more importantly businesses, people’s lives and livelihoods at the very time when The United Kingdom’s economic recovery is paramount and must be being supported in every way possible.