Keep on trucking....
A shortage of lorry drivers so bad that the Government is going to let them work longer hours and ignore the safety consequences is not only down to Brexit. Changing the tax rules so that foreign drivers no longer find driving in the UK as attractive also played a part; as does Covid, it meant fewer tests and so many people have gone home and see fewer reasons to come back.
But creating a hostile environment for EU immigrants and then ignoring what skills they have that the UK needs, have been appalling decisions. Even if you change the tax rules and making driving a top skill to allow more immigrants, will they come?
Because as the industry says allowing longer hours is sticking plaster and won’t work. The distribution network is obviously under terrible pressure but it isn’t the only industry, hospitality, construction, health and many more have been hit by Brexit, on top of everything else.
A sensible government would start reversing the damage it has caused, whatever the political damage. We will see how sensible this government can be.
https://jonty.substack.com/