Appreciate we’ve got our own problems, but at least we’ve only got ours to worry about…to some extent
I know I might be in a privileged position compared to some, but you can really tell how many people either don't travel outside the UK very often, or certainly haven't done it any time recently.
Are there issues with Brexit? Yes. Was it a shit deal? Yes. However, it is extremely lazy just to blame or hyper-focus absolutely everything on Brexit as a comfort blanket method because it wasn't what was wanted by a lot of people. The borders are a joke not because they have all these extra checks (honestly almost nothing has changed and the process of going through the booth/checkpoint/desk is not any longer than it was previously). It takes half a second to stamp the passport and half the time they don't bother anyway. The are just really badly manned, more people are travelling again, and they cannot handle it.
Land at an airport anywhere on the continent, and you will see the same issue. The travel industry just cannot cope. There are queues at passport desks, baggage claim, check-in, you name it... 2 out of 18 lanes were open at Calais when I drove through it a few weeks back, only 1 at Dunkirk last Thursday. In England it is the same and when I went the reverse way the French passport window was actually fucking closed at Dover because they had no staff. I drove straight through it and didn't get checked by the French authorities on either side. If it gets busy they cannot cope either and the same can be said for all the airport staff that got sacked during the pandemic. BA staff were going to strike, announced today a 13% pay rise. It isn't a desirable lifestyle to have with such shit pay and whilst Brexit may have made things a little bit worse, it really is a minor argument (which isn't how it is being painted).
Inflation: Has Brexit contributed? Yes, I am sure it has. Is it mostly to blame? Not even close. Go round any supermarket in the Netherlands, go to a bar in Spain, buy some cheese in France. I have done all three recently. The prices have gone up noticeably by an astronomical amount absolutely everywhere. Note - on a recent trip to Hungary it wasn't too bad, but is was a lot cheaper than most of Western Europe anyway.
So, to swing my cock one more time; in the last six months I have been to Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Hungary, Germany, and Austria (all work other than one holiday) and have come in and out of the UK by all methods of boat, plane, and train on a near weekly basis (approximately 20 times in this duration). By all means if you are unhappy with Brexit then I can completely understand, there are many issues, but most of this stuff here is nonsense. The actual processes themselves for travelling (other than the fucking corona check station at Palma airport) aren't the issue and if you try and argue that they are I will laugh at you because you obviously have not experienced it and don't know what fuck you are talking about.
On what planet is this against the economic orthodoxy is the last twenty years? And how is that different from the 20 before it?
I’ve had zero issues landing in Italy since the start of the year. The UK on the other hand has literally taken hours to get off the plane and through passport control.I know I might be in a privileged position compared to some, but you can really tell how many people either don't travel outside the UK very often, or certainly haven't done it any time recently.
Are there issues with Brexit? Yes. Was it a shit deal? Yes. However, it is extremely lazy just to blame or hyper-focus absolutely everything on Brexit as a comfort blanket method because it wasn't what was wanted by a lot of people. The borders are a joke not because they have all these extra checks (honestly almost nothing has changed and the process of going through the booth/checkpoint/desk is not any longer than it was previously). It takes half a second to stamp the passport and half the time they don't bother anyway. The are just really badly manned, more people are travelling again, and they cannot handle it.
Land at an airport anywhere on the continent, and you will see the same issue. The travel industry just cannot cope. There are queues at passport desks, baggage claim, check-in, you name it... 2 out of 18 lanes were open at Calais when I drove through it a few weeks back, only 1 at Dunkirk last Thursday. In England it is the same and when I went the reverse way the French passport window was actually fucking closed at Dover because they had no staff. I drove straight through it and didn't get checked by the French authorities on either side. If it gets busy they cannot cope either and the same can be said for all the airport staff that got sacked during the pandemic. BA staff were going to strike, announced today a 13% pay rise. It isn't a desirable lifestyle to have with such shit pay and whilst Brexit may have made things a little bit worse, it really is a minor argument (which isn't how it is being painted).
Inflation: Has Brexit contributed? Yes, I am sure it has. Is it mostly to blame? Not even close. Go round any supermarket in the Netherlands, go to a bar in Spain, buy some cheese in France. I have done all three recently. The prices have gone up noticeably by an astronomical amount absolutely everywhere. Note - on a recent trip to Hungary it wasn't too bad, but is was a lot cheaper than most of Western Europe anyway.
So, to swing my cock one more time; in the last six months I have been to Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Hungary, Germany, and Austria (all work other than one holiday) and have come in and out of the UK by all methods of boat, plane, and train on a near weekly basis (approximately 20 times in this duration). By all means if you are unhappy with Brexit then I can completely understand, there are many issues, but most of this stuff here is nonsense. The actual processes themselves for travelling (other than the fucking corona check station at Palma airport) aren't the issue and if you try and argue that they are I will laugh at you because you obviously have not experienced it and don't know what fuck you are talking about.
I’ve had zero issues landing in Italy since the start of the year. The UK on the other hand has literally taken hours to get off the plane and through passport control.
Haha, I wish!Drinking on the flight?
I’ve had zero issues landing in Italy since the start of the year. The UK on the other hand has literally taken hours to get off the plane and through passport control.
That doesn’t surprise meSadly my pseudo Italian friend, Naples was no better.
I’ve had zero issues landing in Italy since the start of the year. The UK on the other hand has literally taken hours to get off the plane and through passport control.
Haha it’s actually an international airport - not sure it’s changed in over 10 years though.Yeah, I believe you. I have not been to every single airport on the continent, but I can tell you that is the exception rather the rule.
The UK is a mess, but the majority of Europe is also the same or even worse.
Next time I'll fly to Verona Airfield
Haha it’s actually an international airport - not sure it’s changed in over 10 years though.
Well at least we're doing better than Russia.
Brexit is a big factor in the state of the economy. Of course it is.
You can't look at this and say otherwise
View attachment 25427
He's got a fighting chance if Truss is the alternative!
He's got a fighting chance if Truss is the alternative!
might not even be an mpHe's got a fighting chance if Truss is the alternative!
Do you like dog sick or cat sick with your Sunday lunch?Maybe it’s all part of the plan !
Yeah because everyone writes airport reviews.must have been a lucky day
Customer Reviews - SKYTRAX
The latest [name] customer reviews, [name] Quality ratings and [name] passenger opinions about [name] standardswww.airlinequality.com
It’ll be ok he’s the man! Name 1 person who could have handled everything better than himmight not even be an mp
Partygate: Boris Johnson may face by-election if found to have misled MPs
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a Parliamentary inquiry into his conduct.www.bbc.co.uk
Crouching Yoga Master Hidden Dragon
Unveiled: Lib Dems’ secret ‘Tory takedown’ plot to smash the Blue Wall (msn.com)
The M20 35 mile approach to Dover (operation Brock formerly Stack) has been on and off for last 5 years... to respond to bad weather/bloxkades/ ferries breaking down etc. It became permanent start of year for Brexit and was compounded by P&O shambles. I drive this commute several times a week and see miles and miles of lorries waiting for extra checks on goods that didn't exist.I know I might be in a privileged position compared to some, but you can really tell how many people either don't travel outside the UK very often, or certainly haven't done it any time recently.
Are there issues with Brexit? Yes. Was it a shit deal? Yes. However, it is extremely lazy just to blame or hyper-focus absolutely everything on Brexit as a comfort blanket method because it wasn't what was wanted by a lot of people. The borders are a joke not because they have all these extra checks (honestly almost nothing has changed and the process of going through the booth/checkpoint/desk is not any longer than it was previously). It takes half a second to stamp the passport and half the time they don't bother anyway. The are just really badly manned, more people are travelling again, and they cannot handle it.
Land at an airport anywhere on the continent, and you will see the same issue. The travel industry just cannot cope. There are queues at passport desks, baggage claim, check-in, you name it... 2 out of 18 lanes were open at Calais when I drove through it a few weeks back, only 1 at Dunkirk last Thursday. In England it is the same and when I went the reverse way the French passport window was actually fucking closed at Dover because they had no staff. I drove straight through it and didn't get checked by the French authorities on either side. If it gets busy they cannot cope either and the same can be said for all the airport staff that got sacked during the pandemic. BA staff were going to strike, announced today a 13% pay rise. It isn't a desirable lifestyle to have with such shit pay and whilst Brexit may have made things a little bit worse, it really is a minor argument (which isn't how it is being painted).
Inflation: Has Brexit contributed? Yes, I am sure it has. Is it mostly to blame? Not even close. Go round any supermarket in the Netherlands, go to a bar in Spain, buy some cheese in France. I have done all three recently. The prices have gone up noticeably by an astronomical amount absolutely everywhere. Note - on a recent trip to Hungary it wasn't too bad, but is was a lot cheaper than most of Western Europe anyway.
So, to swing my cock one more time; in the last six months I have been to Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Hungary, Germany, and Austria (all work other than one holiday) and have come in and out of the UK by all methods of boat, plane, and train on a near weekly basis (approximately 20 times in this duration). By all means if you are unhappy with Brexit then I can completely understand, there are many issues, but most of this stuff here is nonsense. The actual processes themselves for travelling (other than the fucking corona check station at Palma airport) aren't the issue and if you try and argue that they are I will laugh at you because you obviously have not experienced it and don't know what fuck you are talking about.
The M20 35 mile approach to Dover (operation Brock formerly Stack) has been on and off for last 5 years... to respond to bad weather/bloxkades/ ferries breaking down etc. It became permanent start of year for Brexit and was compounded by P&O shambles. I drive this commute several times a week and see miles and miles of lorries waiting for extra checks on goods that didn't exist.
Council I work for has had to employ 100+ people as its now an inland port authority doing checks on goods coming in and out of Europe. They have sat doing nothing over last year (sit on floor above my office) as the offices and legal Brexit frameworks are not finished. The 100+ acre site of tarmac and warehousing has cost an absolute fortune yet still not fully operating due to fuckwit Conservatives. So chaos at Brexit is down entirely to our poor planning and under investment in Dover and yet spunking cash in other areas to portray Brexit is running smoothly.
Government need to invest in more ferry boats and ports such as Sheerness, Tilbury, Harwich, Ramsgate, Folkestone and Newhaven to reduce pressure on Dover and Kent roads.
This goverment have no vision other than tax cuts and less investment in the society and the working classes and people in poverty.
The M20 35 mile approach to Dover (operation Brock formerly Stack) has been on and off for last 5 years... to respond to bad weather/bloxkades/ ferries breaking down etc. It became permanent start of year for Brexit and was compounded by P&O shambles. I drive this commute several times a week and see miles and miles of lorries waiting for extra checks on goods that didn't exist.
Council I work for has had to employ 100+ people as its now an inland port authority doing checks on goods coming in and out of Europe. They have sat doing nothing over last year (sit on floor above my office) as the offices and legal Brexit frameworks are not finished. The 100+ acre site of tarmac and warehousing has cost an absolute fortune yet still not fully operating due to fuckwit Conservatives. So chaos at Brexit is down entirely to our poor planning and under investment in Dover and yet spunking cash in other areas to portray Brexit is running smoothly.
Government need to invest in more ferry boats and ports such as Sheerness, Tilbury, Harwich, Ramsgate, Folkestone and Newhaven to reduce pressure on Dover and Kent roads.
This goverment have no vision other than tax cuts and less investment in the society and the working classes and people in poverty.
The lorries are to one side and you drive right past them. They at no point interfere with the car traffic and use completely different lanes at the ports themselves anyway.
If you are suggesting there is issues with freight, sure I agree with you, that's one of the genuine problems with brexit, but it's absolutely nothing to do with what I'm talking about, or the discussion that was raised on here.
Someone's just been on the radio saying it took them 7 hours to move 2 miles approaching the port, (think they said they were heading for the tunnel).
Yes, but it isn't anything to do with operation stack or brexit. Yet, the BBC and twitter seem to think it's the only reason and keep banging on about it.
I have a lot of time for Simon Calder, but this isn't really correct either. The checks on cars especially when busy are no different to what they were before, I can promise you. Even if we allow a small increase in time for the sake of argument, this is still a minute factor compared to the fact the French border agency effectively didn't show up for work yesterday, and the knock on effect that is now there. Add in that it is the busiest weekend of the year for cross channel travel, and that neither the UK border, or the ferry companies have enough staff on compared to before the pandemic either, and that is what is causing this shit show for 99%.
I am happy to have a go at brexit when it is good and fair, but I am seeing so many lazy comments all over the internet (and many from people who should be reputable) about this situation, and none of them know what the fuck they are talking about.