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THE UK GOVERNMENT has faced calls for nurses, police, teachers and other key workers to be given priority at petrol pumps today, as the army was put on standby to ease a fuel supply crisis.
Filling stations across the country have seen long, snaking queues of frustrated and angry motorists concerned that a shortage of tanker drivers could lead to pumps running dry.
But four days of panic-buying, even as the government insisted there was no shortage of fuel stocks, has left some frontline public sector workers unable to get to work.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said there were “tentative signs of stabilisation”, as filling stations were restocked, although that has not yet shortened queues.
But he blamed the public for panic-buying and the pandemic, which prevented 30,000 heavy goods vehicle drivers being tested, for the issue.
“Once we all return to our normal buying habits… the quicker we can get back to normality,” he told Sky News.
The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing, however, said “urgent action” was still required, as healthcare staff were increasingly unable to travel.
“We can’t be waiting in queues for two or three hours for petrol or diesel when we have patients to see,” BMA deputy chairman David Wrigley told Times Radio.
Britain’s biggest public sector workers’ union, Unison, called for the government to trigger emergency powers, as some local authorities mulled unilaterally declaring a major incident to give priority to essential staff.
Paramedic Jennifer Ward, 21, said she had to try five different garages in Norfolk, eastern England, before she could fill up her ambulance.
“We work a stressful job and we don’t need any added anxiety,” she told the Daily Mail.
‘Get a grip’
The government maintains that a lack of tanker drivers to deliver fuel and unprecedented demand is behind the crisis, and the situation was likely to ease in the coming days.
Despite repeated denials throughout the day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced late yesterday that troops had been put on alert to deploy if required.
The Sun newspaper, normally supportive of Johnson, said the mixed messaging was undermining public confidence, and accused the government of being “asleep at the wheel”.
“Is anyone actually in charge in Downing Street?” it asked in an editorial. “Get a grip on it, PM. Public patience is close to breaking point.”
Fuel shortages at filling stations are now having a knock-on effect across several sectors.
Dozens of non-league football matches were called off because players and officials have been unable to travel, and some schools said online lessons could return.
The head of the NASUWT teaching union, Patrick Roach, said public transport was “simply not an option” for many teachers, as their schools could only be reached by car.
Chair of the National Courier and Despatch Association David Brown told AFP his drivers were unable to commit to some longer journeys as they were “struggling to find fuel”.
‘Utter incompetence’
Britain was contending with a shortage of truckers even before the shortfalls in tanker drivers began to bite, with the resulting empty supermarket shelves and delivery delays stoking fears of a lack of food and toys for Christmas.
The British Meat Processors Association has said fears the panic-buying of fuel could make existing supply chain problems to supermarkets worse and cause further shortages.
The government insists Europe is facing the same problem and has eased its post-Brexit immigration rules for three months in the hope of enticing foreign truckers back.
But critics say that is unlikely to help, blaming the country’s departure from the EU that took full effect in January, combined with the pandemic, and a failure to replace the thousands of overseas drivers who left.
The main opposition Labour party’s home affairs spokesman, Nick Thomas-Symonds, accused the government of “utter incompetence” and blamed it on its “handling of Brexit”.
“The blame lies squarely with them, it lies with no-one else,” he added.
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Nice of the leader of Fianna Fail to give us a lecture about populism, rhetoric and blaming everyone but yourself.
It’s all they know!
Micheal Martin has just characterised the leave campaign and result as xenophobic and racist, how dare he, HOW BLOODY DARE HE, Britain were accepting thousands from India, the West Indies and Africa ever before the EU was in existence, Micheal doesn’t get to characterise a decision just because he disagrees with it
An Beal
Britain were accepting thousands from India, the West Indies and Africa, they were colonies that Britain exploited and rode fore years, leaving them in utter kayos.
“Britain were accepting thousands from India, the West Indies and Africa ever before the EU was in existence”
Out of the goodness of their hearts, was it?
Of course ever since Britain stopped ‘exploiting’ those colonies, they’ve all turned raging success stories. I mean who wouldn’t want to live in Jamaica or the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
@ Oracle. The US has done ok, though?
an Beal bocht, they are all countries that England divided and conquered.
Oracle, check out how they were doing when the colonials were in control.
There will have to be a border between Europe and the U.K. Europe cannot be expected to allow unlicensed trade and unregistered people to travel from other parts of the world with unfettered access. Terrorism must also be a consideration. Our safety and security must be of paramount importance.
And there you have it in a nutshell. The EU’s rhetoric was always about the benefits of trade, free movement of goods and free movement of people. But when one of its members wants to leave – whoa, hang on, don’t think you can be coming here with your unlicensed trade and unregistered people!
No country or union of countries would permit unrestricted access to their country. This is not just an EU position. The U.K. have voted out of the EU precisely to restrict freedom of European people entering their country.
Britain accepted immigration from these countries as they still cling to the grandoise notion of an empire.
If there’s a border poll can we also ask about cork. Those donkeys are mad for a 31 county Ireland…
Don’t think it makes sense to put land border controls. I think the border controls will be in Britain for those coming in from Northern Ireland. Ironic that “Brits” arriving in Britain from parts of the UK may face border controls!
Forget about the movement of people, what about customs revenue for Ireland?
To pay for manning a border that is almost impossible to police? Would create a few jobs I suppose!
I think an Ireland wide free trade zone is the most likely.
Re-erecting and patrolling a land border is far more difficult than imposing immigration controls and customs at Belfast airport/ports.
The Unionist will be distraught but they should have thought of that before promoting a “Leave” vote.
Sorry Brinster but “Unionist” and “think”? These two words are incompatible.
They voted out so border it is!
Can they put a border up internally within the United Kingdom? I don’t think they can. Can you imagine the outcry if free movement within the UK was denied from NI and allowed from Scotland and Wales etc.??? The EU will more than likely insist that full border controls are put up to monitor/stem the flow of non EU migrants from Britain to Ireland, and therefore the EU, after the exit has been managed. I simply cannot see any sort of cosy bilateral agreement being allowed on a land border between the EU and any non-member state.
But they may have to put up a border if Scotland leaves and joins the EU. Otherwise, the free movement of people will continue. How else can they police it? They would have to work out a deal between them that would allow the UK customs and immigration somehow work Scottish airports and ports otherwise. That can;t work.
how soon before the border goes back up?
The only solution is to have an open border between Ireland (the EU) and Northern Ireland – which completely goes against what most peoples reason to vote out of the EU… So they voted out of the EU because of open borders but will most likely have an open border with the EU (or they could, you know, give us back the 6 counties).
Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP was on Morning Ireland this morning guffawing at the notion that Dublin isn’t sovereign because it will get dragged into the UK (inc NI)’s plans for tighter immigration.
Seems a lot more likely that London will effectively hand over all-island immigration controls to Dublin and continued free movement of EU citizens will be sold to NI voters as one of the fruits of the Peace Process. It is far more likely that the EU will agree to this all-island solution in the interests of peace; it is after-all one of its founding values.
The border will be paid for by Frontex, the European Birder Agency. The costs on this side will be borne by the European Union.
*Border
Instead of border control they’ll just call it security or passport check.
Before the referendum . Threats were made about border going back up. Checkpoints every where. Now after the referendum, it’s an open border. Why couldn’t he have used this narrative during the referendum canvassing. That’s right scaremongering. Mr Martin, this is a result of arrogance, not listening to the people, politicians doing it for their own self interest. The result is disenfranchised people.
They haven’t left the EU yet, they just voted to leave
It’s quite interesting the poll surveys suggested large numbers of people voted for leave as a protest vote thinking they actually wouldn’t leave.. They also assumed that Boris Johnson was an anti establishment vote! Which proves their are many idiots in the world..
Shouldn’t he have done this before the referendum, in the case of brexit happening. Obviously he like them all through their arrogance saw no need.
This will be the first opportunity for the Taoiseach to put forward Ireland’s specific interests and concerns and to make clear the national position.
@ Littleone
He’s not fighting the EU on this – they’re not the ones who’ll be pushing for a border.
He’s fighting the UK “Leavers” who want to be seen to be “tackling immigration” and who won’t want a “back door” available to EU migrants through Ireland.
Unless the Leavers completely ignore immigration as an issue, then either we have a border within Ireland or at Belfast airport/ports.
Otherwise you have EU migrants people legally arriving into Dublin, legally travelling to Belfast and then legally getting to the UK.
Happens a lot here too Mark. People vote the opposite way in referndums to goverment in order to give them a bloody nose. Pure stupidity.
Well put LITTLEONE
Brinster, who said anything about fighting the EU on this. I didn’t. I said it was scaremongering. Did you read the article.
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY said the Irish government, the British government, and the Northern Ireland Executive all want the open border with the north retained.
Now unless I am missing something. Garage is not in the British government. The Tories are.
Farage .
It was the Irish government and British government during the referendum campaign saying the complete opposite to what , they are saying now. It was pure scaremongering.
The fact of the matter is that a border going back up is is more likely than it was a week ago. That’s the simple fact – not scaremongering.
You’re implying there has been a change of position by the Irish Gov.
There hasn’t.
The prospect of a border is real, but not guaranteed.
To avoid a border they have to somehow placate all the Leave voters and persuade the Unionists that customs/border controls are for travel from NI to the UK.
That isn’t an easy sell. I still think it is more likely than a land border, but both possibilities are real.
@stephen devlin, that is not true whatsoever.
Two separate polls of leave voters by Ashcroft and Comres have found that 53% and 54% of voters voted left over issue with sovereignty. A further 33% in each poll highlighted that they voted to leave based on concerns over immigration.
Don’t believe everything the mainstream media tells you, they are trying desperately to keep their hopes of globalism alive.
Did u expect borders to appear over night?
Apologies Stephen, reply is actually to Mark Ryan.
@ Littleone
“It was the Irish government and British government during the referendum campaign saying the complete opposite”
The British Gov lost the vote.
They warned of a potential consequence.
They’re now trying to fight against this potential consequence. This is completely consistent.
LITTLEONE, whether a border goes back up is at the end of the day down to two things. One is the position of the UK government and the second is the position of the EU. If Brexit proceeds then the land frontier will an external border of the EU and Ireland will not be legally able to negotiate a border agreement with the UK without EU sanction. The Tories should have thought this one through before holding a referendum. The reality is that immigration to the UK will continue apace after Brexit in much the same fashion as it did before. This is a giant con by the Tories and their supporters. Blaming Johnny Foreigner for the state of the NHS when the queues are due to budget cuts by the Government is simply wrong. What a mess.
Because they haven’t left yet genius
We are leaving, 100%
If the UK want to leave it takes 2 years from the time they request it (not the time they vote for it) they will take thier time in doing so as invoking this process starts the irreversible clock
What about if we began to market ourselves as potentially the only English speaking country in the EU?
Good point, Ireland also needs to now move to a Provincial States system in order to prepare for re-unification with Northern Ireland.
I don’t really think we have the population for that to work well enough, it would just be another unnecessary drain on the taxpayer to pay more politicians.
I’m working on a paper for it at the moment. Most Swiss cantons would have much less of a population than a provincial Irish set-up as well as Austria. Also it would save money.
Instead of paying part time councillors essentially a full wage, make provincial TDs full time. You’d save a fortune and it would remove a huge element of the “parish pump / do me a favour” element because the area covered is large enough that TDs could not just take care of their own patch. Then have a small executive council overseeing national issues. The North would be much keener to enter into that set up than a unitarity state and it would also mean them largely taking care of their own finances.
Fair play, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.
Cheers… I genuinely think it could be a goer. But it is guaranteed to make us collectively poorer in the short term, but I predict richer in the long term once economies of scale kick in.
It would breath much needed economic life into areas which would become the new provincial capitals. Dublin would be unified, then South Leinster, North Leinster / South Ulster, Munster, Connaught, and Donegal would have it’s own for practical reasons. New flag and a new federal capital in Athlone.
All a bit mad really, but we are in mad times so I think we need to be prepared for a serious change of mindset!
That’s sounds like ruauri o’bradaigh’s plan
Edna has now got his instructions from Herr Sutherland….
Enda Kenny wants a lot of things. He should invest in a spine and conscious first and maybe move on from there.
Enda Kenny won’t have a say.. its up to the EU or UK
We have a veto over any EU/UK agreement.
We probably have more leverage over the UK now than it any point since the foundation of the state.
Kenny on the side of another losing campaign. The stay campaign certainly did their homework when they brought him over to promote a stay vote.
Which Irish parties were promoting a “Leave” vote?
How long will today’s drop in the Irish stock market last and at what point will the pro leave crowd be able to admit that leave is a mistake?
AAA/PBP?
Hopefully none as that would be interfering in another countries democracy.
Stock markets respond but we should not run our countries according to the rise of stock markets it’s a path to disaster.
The way Irish passports are being applied for up there at the moment it mightn’t be part of an independent country much longer.We might get it back whether we want it or not. Hollywood Co Down, a staunchly loyalist area is going mad for them and even Ian Paisley Jr has applied. Have a quick google… I had to double and triple check that one myself.
Holywood staunchly loyalist? lol, they would dispute that label robustly from the wine bars of North Down. More like affluent Unionist pragmatism. Easier going on those weekend breaks with an EU passport. So what anyway?
Pity he just couldn’t resign. At least that would cheer people up from all this doom and gloom.
I would have thought the EU would be fully supportive of an open border, sure aren’t they happy to have an open border across their entire eastern and southeastern front?
Maybe it’s time we left too. Reclaim our fishing rights. The country would be awash with money
Let’s see how it works out for next door first!
They’re a resilient bunch, I have no doubt they’ll do alright.
Reclaim fishing rights and overfish already sparse waters .. Yea great idea
“Barclays and RBS shares suspended from trading after tanking more than 8%”
lots of money from tax payer majority owned banks disappearing
No doubt it will work out for them eventually Trevor. It’s the economic instability, potential recession and political upheavel that I’d rather do without just now thanks!
@TheEdge.
We don’t have the equipment needed to overfish our waters! Have you seen the size of them! Just stopping France /Spain et al from fishing our waters would replenish stocks within five years!
Reclaim fishing rights and halt all fishing for ten years allowing fish stocks to come back from complete destruction.
Begin programmes to return to fishing in a controlled manner that ensures we have fish in twenty years. Or ignore the problem and have fish and chips as a fairy tale we tell kids about.
We should just sit tight,Scotland will gain her independence.The Tory party will offer the Irish government a shed load of money and other incentives to take back the failed entity that is the 6 counties.Bitter unionists and other malcontents will be offered visas to commonwealth countries like Canada,NZ and Australia.
and you wonder why everyone laughs at you clowns. i am certainly delighted for you that the border is going back up, absolutely delighted it couldnt happen to a nicer lot :D
The UK has hit the Iceberg that is Brexit. Make no mistake that: Northern Ireland is in steerage, Working class loyalists are at the very back of the line for life rafts, and the intransigence of Unionism will be bulldozed by UK and Irish self interest. You can burn the EU flag on bonfires along with the tricolor now. The only ones watching or caring will be yourselves. Fleg.
Let’s get real. Border controls are inevitable.
The Isle of Mann does not belong the the EU and there are no border restriction in place between the British Isles and The Isle of Mann. San Marino is not an EU member and has an open border with Italy, so is Monaco with France.
He’s in fairy land then…..the smuggling both ways will be mighty with no border between wn EU and Non EU state. The fool.
Paul, then please explain how come these Non EU countries I have mentioned share an open land border with an EU country? Because I’m not making it up. Its a fact.
Juan, one presumes that these countries choose to have a bilateral agreement for freedom of movement of their citizens within Schengen. However given the whole point of the Brexit campaign was to impose tighter border controls, how can they have an oprn border with the Republic but start cracking down on the border with the EU? Juan? You still there?
No we need some controls coming in to the country .There are 2.2 Million Eastern Europeans living in Great Britain who will have no say in the country when article 50 is activated.A vast % will head for Ireland as we are the only speaking English country left in Europe .Also they will be entitled to claim all benefit and conditions of the European Market.Controls are a must to maintain a stable economy.
Excellent point.
Typical of FF and Martin to take the populist stance, fact is that none of Europes countries/people want a different culture/religion who regard the host nation as inferior (although they come here for a better life) coming into their countries, this is also Trumps view, when it all then goes wrong these populist halfwits are no where to be seen or busy blaming someone else. European people can move freely around Europe, our cultures/religion are compatible, it’s just fact that having a huge Muslim population in a Western country does not work. simply too many are coming .
With his resignation Mr Cameron has kicked triggering article 50 (brexit) into the long grass so who knows what will happen. In any case, Daniel O connell’s observation of is as true today as it was nearly 200 years ago “England’s difficulty is ireland’s opportunity”
And this time it’s scotland’s opportunity too.
Scotland has the chance to achieve her long desired goal of independence within the EU and Ireland has her chance to deliver her even longer desired goal of Re-unification and independence within the EU
ENDA KENNY said the Irish government, the British government, and the Northern Ireland Executive all want the open border with the north retained.That may well be true but Mr Kenny should realise the border will become an EU frontier and the Eu will decide how open or closed it’s going to be.
Instead of posturing about as England’s new best friend, Mr Kenny should realise he has got 26 allies in the EU, who would be very happy to keep Scotland and NI in the EU (as the people voted) if only for the reason that half a loaf is better than no bread.
https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2016/06/26/after-brexit-englands-difficulty-is-ireland-and-scotlands-opportunity/
You forget about the people of NI who would actually have to vote for this. Highly unlikely.
Supports and open border but won’t seem to support a border poll ..
Let’s just have a border poll and whatever the result at least it puts the issue to rest and we know where the whole island stands ..
Nothing will change at all. The medias reaction to this has been disgraceful. Full of scare mongering. The UK will make a deal with the EU and everything will go back to normal. The markets will settle and adjust once the deal is reached. As if we could afford a propee border control anyways.
One of the problem selfcentered children of the EU has left .. Time to focus on the positives of it ..
“#Brexit is the result of a campaign of attacks on Europe & promotion of an anti-foreigner agenda.” Whom, may i ask did most of the promoting of the anti-foreigner agenda????
UKIP, Britain First, Express/Daily Mail
Dream on enda
This whole situation is Bordering on insanity, nobody knows yet what the fallout will be and a lot hinges on Scotland and their stance in all this. Consider Northern Ireland having a border to the South and controlled entry through Scotland, it just won’t work so the solution is obviously free travel access throughout Ireland and the British Isles.
Open access for all on these islands and that is the only way forward so face the facts.
The two coalition leader mocking the public playing the same old games. If our leaders actually answered questions we would not have the amount of cronyism and curroption in the public service. If Kenny had Ireland’s interest at heart he would be banging on the door where Germany, France, Italy and the chief eurocrat are deciding our future. Instead he will wait till tomorrow to run over when called to rub up against power and sign were he is told. He is not a leader but a European puppet crying in the dail about what should happen instead of being over in Europe making sure it does happen. Martin is pulling the strings waiting for his chance to take over when as our next taoiseach.
Hilarious FF the most populist party ever deriding populism! :-D
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The utter irrelevance of any of these people’s opinions is astounding.
Enda if you are finished canvasing for the yes vote for brexit, perhaps you would have a few moments to deal with some issiues here in Ireland that you were elected to do.
1. Who owns the Irish Central Bank. 2. Who controles the Irish Central Bank. This cannot be too time consuming for your army of Public servants to get you the information and you can then let the Irish citizens know about the ownership of our Central bank. I remember that you and Martin were very concerned about Trump`s possible visit to Ireland. I find that very confusing, Yet you do not have any concerns letting the Rothchild banker arrive whenever they wish with even a whimper from the both of you. Lad these are the money men who back both sides in wars, for a long time now. How come you two dont have any issiues about them visiting us, or controling our money, and giving us recession after recession. Good on ye boys, just remember when New World Order is out so are ye
The only way this works is if the UK then treats Northern Ireland outside its borders.
So they will control them from outside there border. Unheard of
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