Boris Johnson hints he’ll bin controversial Brexit border checks amid risk it could cause price of food to go up
BORIS Johnson has hinted he will NEVER implement controversial border checks that he signed up to in his Brexit deal.
The PM says new tech will mean physical checks will be “obsolete” in the long term as Cabinet pressures him to stop them coming into force or risk the price of food going up.
The UK side has delayed implementing cumbersome checks on food and goods coming into UK ports from the EU that were agreed in the 2020 divorce terms.
If the checks come in, ministers fear it will help drive up the cost of transporting food with a knock on effect on supermarket prices.
The checks have been delayed three times already, with Mr Johnson suggesting a fourth a more permanent postponement is on cards.
Speaking in India, Mr Johnson told reporters: “I'm generally in favour of minimal friction at all junctures between the UK and the EU.
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“New technology will make some of the checks we have obsolete,” he added.
In October, Brussels agreed to slash four in five checks on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland in a major climbdown.
EU bosses had insisted for months there was no wriggle room on detailed inspections of all shipments.
