HGV lorry
(Picture: PA Wire)The government is issuing emergency visas to foreign lorry drivers to deal with supply-chain issues - but they will run out on Christmas Eve and people think that is pretty ridiculous.
5,000 HGV drivers – together with 5,500 poultry workers – will be offered the right to work in the UK to cope with the shortfall of staff - caused in part by Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic - but only in the run-up to the festive period.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “This government continues to do everything we can to help the haulage and food industries contend with the HGV driver shortage.
“After a very difficult 18 months, I know how important this Christmas is for all of us and that’s why we’re taking these steps at the earliest opportunity to ensure preparations remain on track.”
But reacting to the news, people thought Johnson was pretty Scrooge-like to invite people in then send them packing just before Christmas:
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"Alright lads, anyone fancy popping over to Brexitland for 3 months? You know, drive our shit round, room rental 12 months minimum, trapped at Dover on Xmas Eve again, get told your no long-term solution. Brexiters? Yea we're still telling them you're the problem...
— Ollie Pope (@Ollieargyle9) September 25, 2021
Lads? Lads?" https://t.co/CD0HSNKT3b
Tossed out on Xmas Eve? You couldn't make this stuff up. Brexit Britain is all heart. https://t.co/UeAinu5jG4
— Alan Horrox (@AlanHorrox) September 26, 2021
A temporary visa scheme to end on Christmas Eve. We look a right shithouse of a country. Making use of people whilst it suits. Then chucking them away like fish and chip paper. Christmas Eve only appropriate for one reason, @BorisJohnson and his Tory regime truly are turkeys!
— Matthew Payne (@Matthew82069336) September 26, 2021
The visa ending on CHRISTMAS EVE is the absolute icing on this shit cake. https://t.co/6vbaChu0yQ
— Alice Castle 🏴 (@castlecapturer) September 25, 2021
"Boris Johnson is expecting 5000 of us to just go over to Britain and work until Christmas Eve!" pic.twitter.com/r51stg7o3I
— Richard Chambers (@richmchambers) September 25, 2021
Dear Johnny Foreigner, I know we spent five years telling you to go home, but how about helping us out for three months then fucking off again on Christmas Eve? https://t.co/zo77LZvADo
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) September 25, 2021
If a temporary visa scheme is to work it must be generous, welcoming, and hospitable. A grudging three months that ends on Christmas Eve is an insult to those EU workers whose help the UK needs. Should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Whose idea? @pritipatel ?
— Fr Ian Maher SCP🏴🇪🇺💙🐝#RejoinEU (@IanMaher7) September 25, 2021
Please come and save our Christmas but make sure you leave again by Christmas Eve? Jeez. We just get classier and classier don't we? Time to rethink pretty much all of this. https://t.co/Bq1XII9Fxq
— Lewis Wiltshire (@LewisWiltshire) September 25, 2021
As well as the festive PR nightmare, experts have claimed the visa programme will be insufficient in dealing with the crisis.
The British Chambers of Commerce said the measures were the equivalent of “throwing a thimble of water on a bonfire”.
And the Road Haulage Association said the announcement “barely scratches the surface”, adding that only offering visas until Christmas Eve “will not be enough for companies or the drivers themselves to be attractive”.
With all this in mind, it seems Boris Johnson will be receiving a lump of coal in his stocking this Christmas - if the supply-chain can get it to him in time.
