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The Transport Secretary has called for “patience” from thousands of lorry drivers stranded outside the Port of Dover following the French travel ban.
More than 6,000 HGVs are being held in Kent with some facing a fourth night in their cabs since the border was temporarily closed on Sunday night.
Trucks began entering the Eurotunnel again on Wednesday after the French government agreed to allow drivers through provided they had a negative Covid-19 result, but it is feared it could take days to carry out tests on the hauliers.
Mr Shapps said work continues to “get traffic rolling”, but added drivers needed to “follow instructions” from British officials in order to leave.
Man held as stranded lorry drivers clash with police
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December 24, 2020
KENT: A man has been arrested after lorry drivers stranded by the French travel ban clashed with police in Kent.
More than 5,000 HGVs are being held in the county, with drivers being tested for Covid-19 before they are allowed into France. There were reports of disturbances at Dover and at the lorry holding facility in Manston involving those waiting to cross the Channel on Wednesday morning, Kent Police said.
Footage showed a handful of officers attempting to push back a crowd of protesting drivers in Dover.
One man has been arrested for obstructing a highway in Dover and remains in custody, Kent Police said. A police car was also damaged during a disturbance at Maston, the force added. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said there continued to be “severe delays” despite testing now taking place. He tweeted: “Testing has begun as we look to get traffic moving again between the UK and France.
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Britain and the European Union struck a trade deal after 10 months of intense negotiation allowed them to soften the economic shock of Brexit.
When the UK leaves the EU single market at the New Year, it will not now face tariffs on cross-Channel commerce, despite breaking off half a century of close partnership. We ve taken back control of our laws and our destiny. We ve taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete, and unfettered, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the new deal shows the UK has taken back control of its destiny.