General Chat

"Kense 20 Jun 2021 11:20
The lack of enough HGV drivers is another thing that the Government needs to prepare for if shortages (especially of food) are to be avoided this winter."

Just so. Most people are unaware of the current chaos which is the international transport system. Charges for sea freight (eg Guangzhou - Rotterdam/Felixstowe ) and oil transport have rocketed with container rates up by 500%. If you can get a container of course - Rotterdam, Felixtowe are full of empty incoming containers. Insufficient outbound demand.

Within the EU there is already a big shortage of HGV drivers and especially drivers/trucking firms prepared to take cargoes to the UK. This is because the volume of UK exports to the EU has fallen sharply. Haulage firms bringing a cargo in cannot get a return load and so no profit. On top farmers who could send UK products to the EU cannot get enough people to pick them as the Home Office has not allowed anything like enough work permits. After last year's disaster a lot of land lies fallow.

This is not a brexit teething blip but structural change. Moreover extensive UK controls on EU agri imports come into effect in October.

The ROI has reacted by short cutting the "landbridge" via Dover bringing in two monster ferries which run from Dublin to Cherbourg. Freight through Holyhead and Fishguard has halved.

Stockpiling at home is unlikely to do any more than scratch the upcoming challenges for the British shopper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSbQ0qwQwuk

Agree with you Ann.

OK no problem

Thanks, Ann.
I stand by what I said! :-D :-D

Maggie it is the very last paragraph of this long piece but looking at it now it seems to stand alone so not sure really.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9704921/SARAH-VINE-reacts-St-Pauls-Girls-School-no-longer-using-term-head-girl.html

Oh, I hadn’t read that Kense, but thank you.

I’ve been a good winter stocker-upper since that bad winter (2010/2011?) when OH and I had to trudge in fairly deep snow and struggle back with two bags of groceries each because no one could get up the hill outside our house.

Ten or so years on, I don’t think either of us could do that so I’ll start to stock up now instead of waiting until autumn.

The lack of enough HGV drivers is another thing that the Government needs to prepare for if shortages (especially of food) are to be avoided this winter.

I couldn't find the whole article, Ann - have you got a link?

did you read the full article Maggie. I have been reading her writings for a long time she is never bothered about castigating the government and even sometimes MG himself. She is very much her own woman. I think she means what she says, no second agenda.

As Sarah Vine is the wife of Michael Gove, I'd be suspicious about what she means by
"it's the responsibility of Government to ensure the NHS has the capacity etc"

Does she mean speed up the privatisation?
Employ more nurses and doctors? Not sure how that would happen in a few months, especially as this Goverment has ensured those from abroad no longe feel welcome, and this Government also stopped the nurses bursary, thus ensuring people couldn't afford to become nurses.

It appears to be a collection of words, wrtten by Sarah Vine, with no sense or substance, but ensuring a ridiculous payment! :-D :-D :-D

From Mail on Sunday.Sarah Vine

"Professor Chris Whitty says to brace for a difficult winter. I can understand the concern but why must the assumption be that it's the public that has to prepare? Surely it's the responsibility of Government to ensure the NHS has the capacity to deal with the inevitable increase of serious cases during the winter months. We've done our bit. Now please do yours."