Commenting on the announcement from the Department for Transport that a contingency plan has been developed to deal with “serious disruption to cross-Channel transport” early next year via a “form of contraflow system”, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson, Tom Brake said: 

“The Transport Secretary is right to start worrying about potential serious disruption to cross-Channel transport.

“The EU are indicating they will accept neither the PM’s preferred solution of a customs partnership, nor her rival for PM, Boris Johnson’s ‘max fac’ fantasy plan.

“If no customs deal is reached and tariffs kick in, spot checks will start on the 10,000 lorries that go through Dover alone every day and the Channel ports will simply freeze up.

“Nobody voted to see our ports grind to a halt.  That is why people deserve the final say on the deal and a chance to exit from Brexit.”