VIDEO UK fights SECOND new Covid strain, PM Johnson ENLARGES Emergency Lockdown, UK Travel and Freight Banned By Many Countries
Melodi
Disaster Cat
Parts of the UK are already having a White Christmas after local townspeople started dropping food parcels off the bridge over the motorway (freeway) and it was realized there were buses with small children on them and other people not in heated trucks (not to mention the trucks were going to run out of "petrol" soon) the army was finally tasked with bringing in food, water, toilets and a lot more testing.
Polish troops are also helping (I'm guessing they were there for exercises and a lot of the truck drivers are Poles). It was mentioned on the local news last night that at least 300 Irish drivers are caught up in this mess and that the government is rethinking the traditional "land-bridge" route to bring goods to and from Ireland.
They said if these sorts of holdups are likely they will simply have to find another way to do things, direct routes to France are already in the works - I suspect over time it will get used again (the land bridge) but not until everything is well and truly sorted in terms of paperwork, etc.
And yeah, BoJo got kind of a hash of an emergency "deal," but without one, I think he knew that after the mess in London over COVID, the sudden Christmas lockdown/cancellation, and now this mess; that he would face a no-confidence vote and probably lose in January.
I mean the number one charity song this year wasn't the usual swarmy Christmas redo of "Do they Know its Christmas" or "We are the World" this year the NUMBER ONE CHRISTMAS SONG was (drum roll please)
Boris Johnson is a F...cking C**t..."
You can watch on Youtube, but I'm not able to post it (and I'm not sure I want to lol)
And now for the news...
www.rte.ie
Troops deployed to help clear Kent lorry backlog
Updated / Friday, 25 Dec 2020 13:55
A lorry driver shows his credentials as he enters the Port of Dover
A further 800 British military personnel have been sent to Kent to help thousands of lorry drivers waiting to cross into France.
Around 1,100 troops have now been deployed as part of the operation at the English Channel border after French Covid-19 restrictions caused severe disruption at the Port of Dover.
Thousands of hauliers are spending Christmas Day in their cabs despite efforts to clear the backlog of lorries.
Army personnel will be testing drivers for coronavirus and distributing food and water, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
More than 700 hauliers have been cleared for departure since France reopened its border on Wednesday, and a chorus of beeping horns sounded at Dover on Christmas Eve as those at the front of the queue celebrated finally being able to leave.
However, about 5,000 remain unable to get home yet, despite some progress in testing drivers in their vehicles at nearby Manston Airport, on a closed section of the M20, and in the town of Dover itself.
Some have already spent nearly a week stranded due to the diplomatic impasse.
Traffic was moving smoothly through Dover, with French firefighters drafted in to help test drivers.
Latest coronavirus stories
Southeastern railway and Network Rail arranged for food to be delivered to drivers stuck in Operation Brock on the M20.
Seven trains carrying crates of food for the hauliers have left London in the past 48 hours, with the Salvation Army distributing the items.
France closed its border last Sunday following the discovery of a fast-spreading mutant Covid-19 strain in the UK. Drivers must now show proof of a negative coronavirus test result before crossing into the country.
The MoD said additional soldiers had been deployed today as part of Operation Rose to support the 300 personnel already there.
"We are deploying a further 800 personnel to Kent today to support an increase in the testing capabilities to help clear the backlog of vehicles and ensure traffic can begin to move at a closer to normal pace through Dover," the MoD tweeted.
Britain's transport minister Grant Shapps said in a tweet that over 10,000 Covid-19 have been carried out with 24 of those positive.
Earlier, he said: "We need to get the situation in Kent, caused by the French government's sudden imposition of Covid restrictions, resolved as soon as possible.
"I have today sent special instructions to the army to take control of testing and HGV management operations in the county. Our aim is to get foreign hauliers home with their families as quickly as we can.
"I know it's been hard for many drivers cooped up in their cabs at this precious time of year, but I assure them that we are doing our utmost to get them home."
The government said catering vans would provide hot food and drinks to hauliers stranded at Manston, with Kent County Council and volunteer groups providing refreshments to those stuck on the M20.
There are more than 250 toilets at Manston, with a further 32 portable toilets added to existing facilities on the M20.
A Port of Dover spokesman said ferry services ran throughout Christmas Eve night and will continue today to help ease congestion.
Polish troops are also helping (I'm guessing they were there for exercises and a lot of the truck drivers are Poles). It was mentioned on the local news last night that at least 300 Irish drivers are caught up in this mess and that the government is rethinking the traditional "land-bridge" route to bring goods to and from Ireland.
They said if these sorts of holdups are likely they will simply have to find another way to do things, direct routes to France are already in the works - I suspect over time it will get used again (the land bridge) but not until everything is well and truly sorted in terms of paperwork, etc.
And yeah, BoJo got kind of a hash of an emergency "deal," but without one, I think he knew that after the mess in London over COVID, the sudden Christmas lockdown/cancellation, and now this mess; that he would face a no-confidence vote and probably lose in January.
I mean the number one charity song this year wasn't the usual swarmy Christmas redo of "Do they Know its Christmas" or "We are the World" this year the NUMBER ONE CHRISTMAS SONG was (drum roll please)
Boris Johnson is a F...cking C**t..."
You can watch on Youtube, but I'm not able to post it (and I'm not sure I want to lol)
And now for the news...
10,000 virus tests carried out over Kent lorry backlog
More than 10,000 coronavirus tests have been carried out in a bid to clear the backlog of lorries waiting to cross the English Channel into France.
Updated / Friday, 25 Dec 2020 13:55
A lorry driver shows his credentials as he enters the Port of Dover
A further 800 British military personnel have been sent to Kent to help thousands of lorry drivers waiting to cross into France.
Around 1,100 troops have now been deployed as part of the operation at the English Channel border after French Covid-19 restrictions caused severe disruption at the Port of Dover.
Thousands of hauliers are spending Christmas Day in their cabs despite efforts to clear the backlog of lorries.
Army personnel will be testing drivers for coronavirus and distributing food and water, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
More than 700 hauliers have been cleared for departure since France reopened its border on Wednesday, and a chorus of beeping horns sounded at Dover on Christmas Eve as those at the front of the queue celebrated finally being able to leave.
However, about 5,000 remain unable to get home yet, despite some progress in testing drivers in their vehicles at nearby Manston Airport, on a closed section of the M20, and in the town of Dover itself.
Some have already spent nearly a week stranded due to the diplomatic impasse.
Traffic was moving smoothly through Dover, with French firefighters drafted in to help test drivers.
Latest coronavirus stories
Southeastern railway and Network Rail arranged for food to be delivered to drivers stuck in Operation Brock on the M20.
Seven trains carrying crates of food for the hauliers have left London in the past 48 hours, with the Salvation Army distributing the items.
France closed its border last Sunday following the discovery of a fast-spreading mutant Covid-19 strain in the UK. Drivers must now show proof of a negative coronavirus test result before crossing into the country.
The MoD said additional soldiers had been deployed today as part of Operation Rose to support the 300 personnel already there.
"We are deploying a further 800 personnel to Kent today to support an increase in the testing capabilities to help clear the backlog of vehicles and ensure traffic can begin to move at a closer to normal pace through Dover," the MoD tweeted.
Britain's transport minister Grant Shapps said in a tweet that over 10,000 Covid-19 have been carried out with 24 of those positive.
Earlier, he said: "We need to get the situation in Kent, caused by the French government's sudden imposition of Covid restrictions, resolved as soon as possible.
"I have today sent special instructions to the army to take control of testing and HGV management operations in the county. Our aim is to get foreign hauliers home with their families as quickly as we can.
"I know it's been hard for many drivers cooped up in their cabs at this precious time of year, but I assure them that we are doing our utmost to get them home."
The government said catering vans would provide hot food and drinks to hauliers stranded at Manston, with Kent County Council and volunteer groups providing refreshments to those stuck on the M20.
There are more than 250 toilets at Manston, with a further 32 portable toilets added to existing facilities on the M20.
A Port of Dover spokesman said ferry services ran throughout Christmas Eve night and will continue today to help ease congestion.
