Customers started queueing at supermarkets from 5.50am this morning as folks rushed to purchase groceries earlier than Christmas amid a French ban on British hauliers.
The nation closed their borders to UK travellers as giant swathes of the nation went into Tier 4 lockdown because the mutant Covid pressure unfold throughout components of London and the south east.
Business insiders have warned France’s coronavirus ban on British lorries might cease hauliers bringing in very important festive meals provides.
International locations together with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Eire, and Bulgaria introduced restrictions on UK journey following the outbreak of the brand new pressure throughout South East England.
This shopper started queueing outdoors a grocery store which already had a line of individuals ready at 5.50am right this moment
French borders had been closed this morning as a 48 hour journey ban comes into power as a mutant pressure of the covid virus spreads
It comes as:
- The Meals and Drink Federation warned of ‘critical disruption to UK Christmas contemporary meals provides and exports’;
- Italy stated the mutant pressure had been detected in a traveller who lately returned to the nation from the UK;
- The British Retail Consortium warned closure of France to UK site visitors would create ‘difficulties’ for UK commerce;
- Nicola Sturgeon stated it was ‘crucial’ the UK Authorities sought an extension to Brexit transition interval;
- Eire has imposed a 48-hour ban on flights from Britain whereas ferries can be restricted to freight solely;
- Well being Secretary Matt Hancock admitted the brand new Tier 4 restrictions could have to stay in place for months.
Meals and Drink Federation chief government Ian Wright warned final night time: ‘The suspension of accompanied freight site visitors from the UK to France has the potential to trigger critical disruption to UK Christmas contemporary meals provides and exports of UK food and drinks.
‘Continental truckers won’t need to journey right here if they’ve an actual concern of getting marooned. The Authorities should very urgently persuade the French authorities to exempt accompanied freight from its ban.’
It additionally comes amid fears {that a} Brexit deal won’t be reached earlier than the tip of the yr, inflicting Britain to crash out of the EU.
Lengthy queues shaped at this Tesco retailer in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, yesterday after the Tier 4 lockdown was introduced
Folks queued after it was introduced all non important retailers and retailers will shut in areas together with London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire. Pictured: Tesco grocery store in Essex
The Tier 4 restrictions additionally imply folks beneath the highsest set of restrictions can not combine indoors with anybody not from their family
The Port of Dover closed to all accompanied site visitors leaving the UK for the following 48 hours after France imposed an inbound journey ban. Pictured: Lorries queue on the M20 in Folkestone
Opearation Stack was being applied on the M20 in Kent final night time – when components of the motorway are put aside to park lorries queuing for Channel ports
‘Within the grocery store queue at 5.50 to get my arms on blockade/Brexit lavatory roll’, one shopper posted on Twitter alongside an image of a line of individuals already queueing.
The British Retail Consortium beforehand urged buyers to not ‘filter out’ the cabinets amid issues over a no deal Brexit.
Earlier this month they stated retailers are ‘rising the inventory of tins, rest room rolls and different longer life merchandise so there can be adequate provide of important merchandise’.
They hopes to keep away from a repeat of scenes seen earlier within the pandemic, when panic shopping for led to empty grocery store cabinets and restrictions on key gadgets.
Supermarkets beforehand restricted the sale of key gadgets akin to rest room roll, and staples akin to rice, flour and pasta.
However the French journey ban will result in shortages, the trade consultants stated.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) warned the closure of France to UK site visitors would create ‘difficulties’ for UK imports and exports within the busy Christmas interval.
Andrew Opie, the BRC’s director of meals and sustainability, stated any ‘extended’ disruption can be an issue within the run-up to the tip of the Brexit transition interval on December 31.
‘Whereas items can enter from France, few haulage companies can be prepared to ship vehicles and drivers throughout to the UK and not using a assure they will return to the EU in a well timed method,’ he stated.
‘This can be a key provide route for contemporary produce at the moment of yr.
‘We urge the UK Authorities and the EU to discover a pragmatic resolution to this as quickly as attainable, to forestall disruption for shoppers.
‘Retailers have stocked up on items forward of Christmas which ought to stop instant issues.
‘Nevertheless, any extended closure of the French border can be an issue because the UK enters the ultimate weeks earlier than the transition ends on December 31.’
The Port of Dover was right this moment closed to all freight autos leaving the UK for the following 48 hours.
Hauliers coming to Britain from France will nonetheless be allowed in however there are fears that lorry drivers won’t journey to keep away from being ‘marooned’ within the UK.
It might trigger grocery store cabinets to empty of important elements for the Christmas Day festive feast.
Tube stations and excessive streets had been equally abandoned as London went into its first day of Tier 4 lockdown, with limits on journey outdoors the realm and nearly no retailers allowed to stay open
The Prime Minister will maintain an emergency Cobra assembly right this moment to debate the French ban to make sure ‘strong plans are in place’.
A No 10 spokesman stated yesterday: ‘The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra assembly tomorrow to debate the scenario relating to worldwide journey, particularly the regular stream of freight into and out of the UK.’
The newly launched Tier 4 restictions imply all non important retailers and retailers will shut in areas together with London, Kent, Essex, Surrey- excluding Waverley – and Bedfordshire.
Supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations remained on the Authorities’s permitted listing – as do the less-obvious Christmas tree retailers, dry cleaners, archery and capturing ranges and out of doors driving centres.
The final minute annoucement gave Britons simply eight hours to finish their reward buying forward of Christmas Day earlier than the principles kicked in at midnight.
Excessive streets and trains in Tier 4 areas had been left abandoned yesterday as all non-essential retailers closed their doorways. Tube stations had been equally empty after journey out of the capital was restricted.
Folks within the highest band of restrictions additionally can not combine indoors with anybody not from their family.