Border Force staff face eight-week holiday ban next spring amid panic over ‘No Deal’ Brexit
NEARLY 9,000 Border Force staff face an EIGHT WEEK holiday ban next Spring as worried ministers prepare for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit.
Proposals have been sent to Home Secretary Sajid Javid as Whitehall panics about the consequences of the collapse of trade talks with the EU.
Sources told The Sun that under one plan all 8,500 Border Force staff will be banned from taking leave in the four weeks from March 24 – five days before Britain is due to formally leave the EU.
This would then be followed by a further four weeks of “significant restrictions” – meaning staff would only be allowed time off in exceptional circumstances over Easter. A separate plan details a two week outright ban followed by six weeks of restrictions.
It’s the first significant sign of No Deal planning by the Home Office – despite repeated calls for the Government to do more to shore up Britain’s borders.
Critics claim a No Deal will spark huge queues at ports due to explosion in physical checks on goods and people entering the UK.
Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union said staff were “paying the price” for their woeful lack of preparation by the Government and Border Force over the past two years.
The Home Office is recruiting some 300 extra Border Force staff for Brexit – but union leaders claims TEN TIMES as many are required.
Ms Moreton stormed: “Beleaguered staff who already have had to give up summer family holidays may now be asked to give up Easter holidays as well just to paper over the gaps caused by years of under investment.
“We have repeatedly warned Border Force of the need for far greater preparation in case of the catastrophic impact of a No Deal.
“Now our members are paying the price.”
A No Deal effectively means all existing agreements and alliances with the EU end overnight on March 29.
Leaked documents last week suggested the Home Office may allow EU citizens to enter the UK without checks in the event of a No Deal because Border Force doesn’t have the capacity to cope.
It currently takes 45 seconds to check an EU citizens’ passport compared to an average four minutes for someone from the rest of the world.
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But non-EU tourists have faced huge delays of up to 3.5 hours at Heathrow this summer as staffing shortages cause huge tailbacks at border control.
A Home Office spokesman last night said: “We have made significant progress in negotiations and are confident of securing a deal with the EU.
“However it is the duty of any responsible government to prepare for every eventuality, including the unlikely scenario that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal.”
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