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Additional areas of England are expected to be raised to Tier 4, as freight lorry congestion continues on UK-France border
It comes as France lifted its travel ban and allowed journeys from the UK to resume but a negative Covid test is needed. By Press Association Wednesday 23 Dec 2020, 7:21 AM Dec 23rd 2020, 7:21 AM 14,567 Views 3 Comments
Freight lorries lined up at the front of Manston Airport runway in Kent
Image: PA
Image: PA
MORE AREAS OF England could be put into Tier 4 from St Stephen’s Day while a mass testing programme was due to get underway to alleviate congestion at the border between France and the UK.
Lorry driver stuck on M20 sets up picnic from cab as mass testing programme aims to end congestion Andy Wells A Turkish long-haul truck driver eats his breakfast at a truck stop off the M20 motorway which leads to the Port of Dover, near Ashford in Kent, south east England on December 22, 2020, as he queues unable to continue his journey after France closed its borders to accompanied freight arriving from the UK due to the rapid spread of a more-infectious new coronavirus strain. - Britain sought to sound a note of calm saying they were working as fast as possible to unblock trade across the Channel after France shut its borders to UK hauliers in a bid to contain a new variant of the coronavirus. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Lorry drivers clash with police in Dover after Grant Shapps warns congestion might not be eased until Christmas April Roach
Frustrated lorry drivers have clashed with police in Dover after France agreed to ease its travel ban.
Thousands of lorries have been stuck at the port since Sunday when France announced it was shutting the border to prevent the spread of a mutated strain of coronavirus from reaching the European country.
The Army has been deployed to help carry out mass testing of the drivers in Kent, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned it could take until Christmas for congestion to be relieved near ports.
23/12/20
The British government has published the 2025 UK Border Strategy, saying it sets out the government’s ambitious plan for developing the most effective border in the world.
From 1 January 2021, the UK will take back control of its borders as a sovereign nation. The UK will lay down its own rules to make our country safer and more secure, with new tools to prevent illicit commodities crossing through our borders and preventing people who seek to cause harm reaching the UK.
This new strategy sets out how the government will work with industry to harness innovative technology to help UK businesses take full advantage of new trading relationships with the rest of the world. It will provide smoother passenger journeys through ports, strengthen the UK’s ability to target criminal activity, and help tackle illegal migration.
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Lancashire and the Fylde coast could be moved into Tier 4 from Boxing Day along with other areas of England
Yesterday, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire’s director of public health said there was a “high likelihood” the new variant was in the county, and warned that the best way to control transmission and avoid the county, including the Fylde coast, going into tier four was to stay as safe as possible.
Meanwhile health chiefs in Cumbria have said the new variant is in the county and could be behind sharp increases in new cases.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has written to the Prime Minister to say his party would back any Government moves to tighten restrictions if that is what scientists recommended.