Anna Soubry sparks row as she says Brexit to blame for airport queues

Ms Soubry wrote: “Arriving at Faro airport Portugal. V long queues for non-EU arrivals ie British travellers but Irish passengers whizz through.

“Delays at passport control are a direct result of Brexit – UK passports must be doubly checked & stamped. If anyone tells you otherwise they’re lying.”

But within hours her comments have attracted thousands of comments, with many people dismissing her claims of long lines.

One user, John Merricks, said: “We arrived on Thursday. We were through passport control in 5 minutes.” User Craig Cowley added: “Yes agree, but the #brexit voters wanted tougher border controls. But also there’s been a strike by Portuguese border control at Faro. At Lisbon on Friday the queue was about 30mins.”

The debate over how long it takes for passports to be checked has been exacerbated by miles-long queues snaking through the Kent countryside in the run up to Easter. Thousands of passengers spent hours trying to get through the port and into the continent, with many trips delayed or ruined.

As the chaos at Dover gained widespread attention last weekend and on Good Friday – speculation arose as to why there were such delays, with Brexit being the most likely contender.

 Speaking to Sophie Ridge last Sunday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “I don’t think it’s fair to say that this is an adverse effect of Brexit.

“I think we have seen we have had many years now since leaving the European Union and there’s been, on the whole, very good cooperation and processes.

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“But at acute times, when there’s a lot of pressure crossing the Channel whether the tunnel or the ferries, then I think there’s always going to be a backup.”

Daily Express readers were asked in a poll whether Brexit was to blame for the disruption at Dover. Around 69 percent (4,468 people) said that Brexit was not to blame.

However, 31 percent (1,987) said it was. One user, TheGreatValiantMan, said: “You vote for a hard border and more checks and guess what happens? I know it’s difficult to comprehend but if your Government signs a deal that demands the date on your passport is checked, and then stamped, it tends to take a bit longer than it used to.”

In June 2022, travellers queued in their hundreds at airport terminals, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Brexit was to blame.

The London Mayor said the problem was “self-inflicted”. Speaking to BBC1’s Sunday Morning, he said: “What you can do very easily is to make sure those who were in those jobs before, who’ve gone back to their country of origin in the EU, are encouraged to come back.

“What the government’s got to do is get around the table with the aviation sector, the airports, those who run the airlines, to see what exactly their problems are.

“If there is a shortage, change the list to make sure those [workers] can come easier than other occupations. This is self-inflicted from the government. It isn’t about Covid. This is about Brexit plus Covid.”

Nearly a year on and the government has said that Brexit may have played a role in the queues.

In a statement, they acknowledged that “new processes” brought in after Brexit have had an impact. The spokesman said: “Obviously we recognise there are new processes in place.

“That’s why authorities were given a long time to prepare for the new checks including during the transition period, of course, and we are in discussion with our French counterparts about how we can further improve the flow of traffic.

“We believe that we have put in measures to mitigate any of the challenges that may crop up – that’s giving authorities additional time to prepare, and working with our French counterparts in increasing our ability to move traffic and passengers through freely.”

As the UK gets closer towards the peak summer holiday season in just a few months’ time, there are concerns the problems at both coastal and airports could continue.