Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of British lorry drivers face the prospect of being barred from entering the EU after missing out on permits that will be required after Brexit.
Figures show more than 11,000 HGV operators applied for a European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permit but less than 1,000 of the annual passes were made available.
The Department for Transport said an additional 2,832 one-month permits “will start to be allocated” by the end of the month, although this is still short of how many are required.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) criticised the decision, describing the current state as an “intolerable position”.
“When the bidding process for permits was first announced, we said that it amounted to nothing more than a lottery system,” RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said.
“Even with the new allocation, ECMT will only supply permits for around 10 per cent of the sector’s needs.”
Applicants who have been unsuccessful in this bidding round will be automatically entered into the next allocation round for ECMT permits but the RHA have claimed not all operators who require the passes applied the first time round.
“To say that many international hauliers will be disappointed is an understatement. How can they be expected to maintain the flow of exports to the rest of the EU if they do not have and cannot have enough permits to allow access to Europe?” Mr Burnett said.
“We need the alternatives to be put in place, or even better, we need a full transition period so practical measures can be achieved to maintain our supply chains.”
A DfT spokesperson told The Independent: “The Government continues to work towards a deal and we are confident of securing a relationship with the EU which maintains the current, liberalised access we enjoy.
“This is very much in the interest of the EU as well as the UK. We are confident that hauliers should not need an ECMT permit to continue operating in the EU.
“The Commission has already put forward proposals which would ensure hauliers continue carrying goods into the EU for in the event of no deal but we will continue to work on all possible contingency measures.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments