Don't Blame Driver Crisis On Brexit

Industry leaders must share some of blame

- Macer Hall

Blaming the shortage of HGV drivers on Brexit is simply wrong, leading Tory MPs insisted last night.

Former party chief Sir Iain Duncan Smith hit out at “lazy” critics who linked hold-ups in supplies of fuel and food to Britain voting to leave the EU. He added: “This is simply untrue. The culprit is coronavirus.”

As independent petrol retailers said up to nine in 10 of their filling stations had run dry, motorists were urged to top up their tanks only if needed. And in order to end queues of panic buyers, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng last night relaxed competition laws to let oil firms target fuel stations that run low.

He added that “fuel supplies can be maintained and deliveries can still be made”. Sir Iain led MPs’ criticism of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), other industry groups and some commentators for using the crisis to attack the departure from the EU.

He said in an article: “Some broadcasters and journalists have lazily labelled this as a Brexit problem without looking any further, yet this is simply untrue.

“This is a European-wide issue and the culprit is coronavirus. The origins of this chronic shortage lie in the long-term implications of locking down so completely.

“What we now see are the aftershocks of lockdown decision-making beginning to buffet us. There has clearly been little forward-thinking or planning.