Another month of decline for UK car production as industry calls for Brexit deal December 23, 2020 UK car production fell again last month as the industry urged Brexit negotiators to “seal the deal”. New figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), factories produced just 106,243 vehicles, last month. It represents a 1.4 per cent drop year-on-year – a better performance than other months this year – [...]
UK headed for fresh produce shortages if Dover jam is not eased tomorrow December 22, 2020 The UK is heading for fresh produce shortages as soon as Christmas ends if the chaos at Dover is not eased in the next 24 hours. The UK has faced nearly 48 hours of chaos at the port of Dover after France shut its border with the UK, including to those carrying freight to the [...]
Some 1,500 trucks stacked up at Dover as chaos continues December 22, 2020 There are now around 1,500 lorries parked up in side streets, on motorways and in laybys as chaos continues at the port of Dover. On Sunday France made a surprise decision to shut its border with the UK, in an attempt to stop a new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus spreading through the country. [...]
Border closures force Toyota to shut three plants early for Christmas December 22, 2020 Toyota plans to shut production at three plants in Britain and France early for Christmas, due to likely part shortages as a result of border closures. Toyota’s plant in Deeside, Wales, will close from today, and its vehicle plant in Burnaston will close from tomorrow. In France, its site at Onnaing will shut its doors [...]
MPs question government’s 2025 broadband target amid 5G concerns December 22, 2020 MPs have questioned the government’s ability to meet its revised-down target for “gigabit-capable” broadband to be delivered to most of the country by 2025, saying the industry faces serious challenges over such a short time-scale. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee also said the rollout of superfast 5G internet risked creating more “not-spots” in [...]
Exclusive: Siemens UK boss explains why the pandemic has been a ‘helpful’ distraction from Brexit December 21, 2020 Despite the many difficulties, the pandemic also brought some good, such as a distraction from Brexit, Siemens UK CEO Carl Ennis tells Morning Wire in an exclusive interview. Read more: Siemens UK chief executive Juergen Maier announces early retirement Brexit The fact that the virus pushed Brexit down the hierarchy of news was helpful, in Ennis’ [...]
New: ‘Health protocol’ to be put in place in hours to get freight moving, says French transport minister December 21, 2020 “A solid health protocol” will be put in place in the coming hours so flows of goods between the UK and France can resume, the French transport minister has said. There has been chaos at Dover this morning after the French government banned all travel from the UK for 48 hours, including freight drivers, prompting [...]
Shapps claims ‘this is not unusual’ ahead of emergency Cobra meeting on Dover December 21, 2020 Boris Johson will hold a meeting with the government’s emergency committee this morning after France closed its border with the UK following a new, more infectious strain of coronavirus in the South East of England. Last night the French government banned all travel from the UK for 48 hours, including freight drivers. The move comes [...]
Break: Government freezes quarantine list for Christmas period but US Virgin Islands fall foul December 17, 2020 The Government has added Uruguay, Namibia and the US Virgin Islands to the list of countries returning passengers must quarantine after visiting. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said there will be more changes to the quarantine list until January 7th, mitigating the chance of travel chaos over Christmas, unless it is an “emergency.” No [...]
British Airways to stop flights to Sydney and Abu Dhabi amid Covid downturn December 17, 2020 British Airways is axing its direct flights to more than a dozen destinations, including Sydney and Abu Dhabi, as it trims its schedules due to the coronavirus pandemic. The UK flag carrier will cut non-stop flights to 13 destinations from the summer, with others to be suspended for six months. From the beginning of March, [...]