Category Archives: Brexit

Senior Fellow at the think tank, UK in a changing Europe, Professor Nicola McEwen reflected on what challenges would occur for an independent Scotland rejoining the EU. During an interview with Express.co.uk, Professor McEwen said Brexit may have made the process easier for Scotland. She insisted that a Scotland that is no longer part of the United Kingdom would be different from the Spanish and Catalonia situation.

She added, EU member states in support of Scotland joining would make this point if Spain argued against it.

Professor McEwen said: "There would have to be unanimity from all the European Union member states.

"I don't necessarily foresee that as a problem.

"I think Brexit, in some ways, has made that a little bit easier.

DON'T MISS:Lord Frost on brink of triggering Article 16 fears Labour

"This is because it makes Scotland look a little bit different from Catalonia, in terms of the Spanish challenges.

"This is because it is outside, it could give a bit of cover for other member states to say that Scotland is different.

"There are other issues like the kind of European state an independent Scotland would be.

"And ensuring that they can maintain and secure the consent and support from all of the member states."

"This can also be said about Brexit.

"I think there is a lot that we can learn from the Brexit process about how Scotland could theoretically become independent and what that would mean in terms of negotiating with the rest of the UK in the first instance.

"You can use the language of Brexit if you like, a withdrawal agreement and a future relationship."

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Brexit may have made Scotland rejoining the EU easier as Spain's argument dismantled - Daily Express

Its wonderful that we now have control of our borders and are preventing the mass arrival of illegal immigrants (Ill pause a little longer but stay on your seat).

And how about that new post-Brexit trade agreement with the United States? Did you see the way President Joe Biden could hardly wait to get his signature on that one? (Ok, get off the floor please)

And good job too for our filling stations and supermarkets that we no longer employ HGV drivers from the EU. I mean, who needs them? (Hold that laughter a big U-turn is under way)

Boris Johnson kept saying he was going to get Brexit done but forgot to tell us we were all being done.

Let us hope that his governments reneging on the Northern Ireland protocol will not bring more fines on top of those imposed by the Electoral Commission for the fraudulent funding of the Leave.EU and the (official) Vote Leave campaigns.

And let us hope that some of the present generation will live to see the day when Britain re-joins the European trading family of nations. At the age of 74, I dont think it will be my privilege but I hope my grandchildren live to see it. For their sakes for all our sakes.

Phil Cram,Wigton

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'Brexit chickens are coming home to roost' | News and Star - News & Star

Brexit has been defended as a "good thing" for Britain's HGV driving industry amid attempts to link the EU referendum result with supplies chain problems and shortages at petrol stations.Andrew Eburne, managing director of J Coates HGV Services Ltd, has told GB News that, far from the lorry driver shortage being a result of the UK leaving the bloc, Britons are "incentivised" to apply for driver jobs as pay has increased.

Mr Eburne told GB News: "Brexit is a good thing for the industry or a good thing for the country as regards to the driver situation.

"Before Brexit, the industry was relying on cheap labour coming in from Europe. No doubt about that.

"Which then prevented or it did not incentivise UKcitizens to do those jobs because they didn't feel that it was paid enough.

"Now the wages are going through the roof we get inundated with phone calls with people wanting to be drivers."

JUST IN:Nigel Farage hit by a van while on hunt for petrol

Mr Eburne continued: "We are seeing on a daily basis a lot of older drivers coming back to the industry because the wages are going up.

"They have gone away done something else and come back.

"There's guys who just want to do part-time work, it gives you such a wide variety of work.

"There is always going to be a need for drivers."

Almost 200 military personnel - including 100 drivers - have been undertaking training at haulier sites and will start deliveries to help relieve the situation at petrol stations, which ministers insist is stabilising.

The Government also announced that a temporary visa scheme for nearly 5,000 foreign food haulage drivers that was due to expire on December 24 will now be extended to the end of February, following criticism of its attractiveness to drivers.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay said: "The Government has taken decisive action to tackle the short-term disruption to our supply chains, and in particular the flow of fuel to forecourts.

"We are now seeing the impact of these interventions with more fuel being delivered to forecourts than sold and, if people continue to revert to their normal buying patterns, we will see smaller queues and prevent petrol stations closing."

DON'T MISSCouzens sick nickname was KNOWN to Met - Cressida Dick urged to resign[UK]Gloating Michel Barnier says Brexit was ALWAYS going to cripple UK[POLITICS]Paying by phone at McDonalds could land drivers with 200 fine[CARS]

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng added: "UK forecourt stock levels are trending up, deliveries of fuel to forecourts are above normal levels, and fuel demand is stabilising.

"It's important to stress there is no national shortage of fuel in the UK, and people should continue to buy fuel as normal."

The Government has said there is no national fuel shortage, but Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the Daily Mail that there is global disruption to supply chains in other industries.

He told the paper: "These shortages are very real", adding: "We're seeing real disruptions in supply chains in different sectors, not just here but around the world. We are determined to do what we can to try to mitigate as much of this as we can."

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HGV driver shortage sees UK haulage boss defend EU referendum 'Brexit is a good thing!' - Daily Express

28 September 2021

Part of the reason the UK is experiencing such high gas prices right now is because of Brexit, and the UK leaving the Internal Energy Market.

There is not evidence that this is a significant factor in higher wholesale gas prices in the UK at the moment.

Weve seen a number of claims on Facebook that high gas prices in the UK are in large part down to Brexit, and namely the fact that the UK has left the EUs Internal Energy Market.

One says that in its coverage the BBC forget to mention that prices increased as a result of brexit, and the UK is no longer in the EUs internal energy market, which has kept prices in the EU low as prices in the UK soar, while another claims its because the EU have an internal energy market which subsidies wholesale energy rises, keeping prices low. Something we are no longer a part of because of Brexit.

There is no evidence that leaving the EU is a major reason behind price increases felt in the UK.

The Internal Energy Market (IEM) allows free movement of gas and electricity without restrictions or tariffs across borders between EU member states, often through physical cables, or interconnectors. The IEM is essentially a subset of the EU single market.

The UK was a member of the IEM until the end of the Brexit transition period, which stopped on 31 December 2020. Northern Ireland continues to be part of the Single Electricity Market with the Republic of Ireland, meaning all electricity on the island is bought via a single pool and some EU regulations still apply.

Tom Edwards, a senior modeller at the energy market consultancy Cornwall Insight, told Full Fact: Leaving the EU/Internal Energy Market is unlikely to be a significant factor in the high wholesale gas and power prices we are experiencing at the moment.

A key feature of the IEM is something called implicit allocation, which is where both energy and interconnector cable capacity are bought at the same time, so are sold together in a single process. Having left the IEM, we now do explicit allocation, which is where the capacity of the interconnector cable and the energy itself are bought separately, which can lead to less efficient trade and increased prices.

Mr Edwards added: Moving from implicit allocation to explicit allocation has caused some price divergence in both directions, meaning the difference between prices here and in Europe fluctuates.

Great Britain is constrained in how much it can import from the EU. So, more fundamental factors such as proximity to continental gas markets, storage levels, wind speeds, and interconnector availability (which would have been the same with or without the UK leaving the EU) are the most significant drivers of difference between prices.

As well as this, gas prices in European markets are similarly high. The high prices are generally driven by international (and some regional) factors.

On the reason for the UK price rises, Oil & Gas UK states: The causes are global European gas stocks are down, supplies from Russia have declined and there is strong demand for liquefied natural gas from Asia.

The UK has reportedly suffered reduced wind, and several nuclear units are offline. Governments in other European countries are reportedly considering measures to help consumers cope with increased costs of gas and electricity.

Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, told parliament in a speech on 20 September that high demand in Asia for a particular type of liquified natural gas meant less was reaching Europe and weather in the US had affected exports to Europe. Bloomberg reports this was because freezing temperatures in winter meant this type of gas went to Asia where sellers could get the best rates.

This article is part of our work fact checking potentially false pictures, videos and stories on Facebook. You can read more about thisand find out how to report Facebook contenthere. For the purposes of that scheme, weve rated this claim as missing context because there isnt evidence that Brexit and leaving the Internal Energy Market is the driving force behind increased gas prices.

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Has Brexit caused higher gas prices? - Full Fact

A report published by Gary Taylor, a former Defra official and fisheries negotiator, has estimated the UK fishing industry will make a 300million loss by 2026 rather than a gain of 146million forecast by the Government.Brexiteer June Mummery has said the Prime Minister has sold out British fishermen in the Brexit deal signed in December 2020, which saw the UK cut EU fishing quotas by just 25 percent over the next five years.

The former Brexit Party MEP toldExpress.co.uk: The truth is there, we are worse off, it is a joke.

"I have been saying it all along, we have been sold out."

She added: "It is devastating, I am completely devastated, I was devastated when we did not take back full control of our waters and resources.

"The industry is on its knees."

In his damning findings, Mr Taylor forecasts the UK fishing industry will lose 64million each year by 2026.

After June 2026, Britain can cut EU catches further but officials in Brussels will be able to slap tariffs on fishing products.

Barrie Deas, CEO of the National Federation of Fishermens Organisations (NFFO), said there are very few winners and a great many losers of the Brexit fishing deal.

He added: These figures suggest that the bulk of the UK fishing fleet is on a trajectory to incur losses amounting to 64million or more per year over the timeframe of this analysis, meaning that, unless changes are secured through international fisheries negotiations, the industry will have lost in excess of 300 million by 2026.

READ MORE:Brexit LIVE: Smug Barnier tells Boris to be careful 'it is too late'

It added the average mean increase in fishing quotas was nine percentage points for each of the species.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has dismissed the report published by Mr Taylor and said fishing opportunities had risen to 333million.

It has also pointed towards the 100million of funding made available to the industry at the start of the year.

A Defra spokesperson said: Now we have left the EU, we have taken back control of our waters.

We have greater shares of fishing quota, and the total value of UK-EU fishing opportunities for the UK in 2021 is approximately 333million an increase of 27 million on last year.

We have agreed a quota exchange mechanism and recently announced the first investment from our 100million UK Seafood Fund to boost science and innovation in the industry.

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'Sold out!' Brexit to 'devastate' fishing industry as bombshell report reveals 300m loss - Daily Express

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The EU is partly to blame for the Brexit minister David Frosts aggressive negotiation tactics on the Northern Ireland protocol, Theresa Mays former special adviser on Europe has said.

Raoul Ruparel said Brussels refusal to give May concessions on the protocol, only to subsequently agree a deal with Boris Johnson, feeds the perception in London that the hardline approach was the only one that would pay off.

For this reason he believes Lord Frost will carry out his repeated threat to trigger article 16, the controversial safeguard clause allowing either side to unilaterally suspend the application of the agreement even if the consequences mean already damaged UK-EU relations take a further dive.

Whether you agree with him or not, I think that he, and to some extent the prime minister and others, think that playing hardball has proven to be effective and is the only way to really get them to sit up, said Ruparel, a respected former adviser now working for Deloitte.

If youre looking at it from his perspective it has to be a credible threat and [he must] be willing to follow through on it.

Frost has warned the EU on several occasions that the UK believes the conditions have been met to suspend part of the protocol in an effort to get the UK to renegotiate part of it.

Earlier this month, the European Commission vice-president, Maro efovi, warned that a renegotiation would merely lead to more instability for businesses and communities which landed badly in Downing Street.

Two days later, Frost waded in again, hardening the language contained in the threatbefore saying the EU would be making a significant mistake if it did not take the UKs demands seriously.

The UKs tough talk approach is mystifying for some. The German ambassador to the UK, Andreas Michaelis, tweeted on Thursday that it seems we are entering a new phase with regard to the Northern Ireland protocol.

He added: Just as the EU becomes more pragmatic and understanding, the UK adopts a less flexible approach.

The Conservative MP Roger Gale complained at a UK trade and business commission conference on Thursday that Frost seemed to be negotiating by megaphone, questioning what the effect of such public criticism would be.

Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said he was baffled as to why people in the government thought they were winning concessions through hardball tactics.

I find that a really fascinating argument because I know that trade and cooperation agreement quite well, and the UK did not get much of what it wanted at all, he said

He added: Yes, it got rid of the references to the court of justice, but then in terms of the offensive interests of the UK: the UK wanted more expansive rules of origin, better provisions on mutual recognition of professional qualifications, a deeper relationship when it came to the mutual recognition of products; the UK didnt get any of that.

Ruparel suggested the further strain on UK-EU relations after invoking article 16 may be thought of as irrelevant by Frost. He said: He may think: whats the point in having better relations if they [the EU] dont actually allow us to have these conversations and achieve anything?

If its just better relations in of themselves and youre not getting a better deal or these concerns are not being, he may be thinking then whats the use?

How is article 16 is triggered?

The UK would have to give the EU one months notice that it was triggering the clause, which can be invoked by either side in the event the protocol leads to serious economical, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist, or to diversion of trade.

The UK would also specify what safeguard measures it would take but article 16 specifies that these are restricted with regard to their scope and duration, so dont expect an immediate trade war.

What are the safeguards likely to be?

Checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea into Northern Ireland from Great Britain could be unilaterally suspended indefinitely.

But it could be worse. Remember when the EU threatened to trigger article 16 during the vaccine wars? What came as a shock to many commentators was the fact measures in the Brexit protocol designed to protect peace in Northern Ireland could be deployed in a completely different theatre of war.

How would the EU respond?

Initially in a legal fashion, arguing that the test to trigger article 16 had not been met, or with a counter-action based on allegations that the UK had breached the terms of the protocol. As the thinktank UK in a Changing Europe explains: Article 16 does not provide any detail on what constitutes a serious impact or what is meant by diversion of trade. So a field day for lawyers.

Can the UK suspend the protocol?

No. The agreement calls on the UK and the EU to immediately enter talks through the UK-EU joint committee with a view to finding a commonly acceptable solution in the event of article 16 being triggered.

So they just go back to talks?

Although the agreement limits the scope of safeguard measures, the fact that the EU considered using article 16 to secure Covid-19 vaccine supplies shows that cross-retaliatory measures and trade wars are not beyond possibility.

What would a trade war look like?

It would be tactical. Lowe at the Centre for European Reform recalls how Donald Trump used safeguard measures to put a tariff on aluminium and steel.

The EU was targeted in its reaction applying a massive jump to 56% in the tariff on Harley-Davidson bikes imported from the US.

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EU partly to blame for UKs hardline tactics, says former May aide - The Guardian

Labour plans to open its own talks on a new agreement with the EU to end the post-Brexit crisis forcing musicians to abandon tours, piling pressure on the government to finally act.

Brussels will be asked to revive its offer of visa-free visits across the EU for creative artists and to remove huge new fees and red tape to transport equipment, The Independent can reveal.

Keir Starmers party has been criticised for a reluctance to reopen Brexit wounds by committing to plug gaps in the skeleton trade deal reached by Boris Johnson, but will now make its own move to rescue touring.

Alison McGovern, Labours shadow culture minister, said: The job for us now given what the Tories have failed to do is to go and have those practical conversations.

The move has been hailed as a potential breakthrough by big-name musicians hoping it pushes ministers to reconsider a visa-waiver scheme, which the UK rejected last year.

Speaking to The Independent, award-winning singer-songwriter Katie Melua welcomed steps being made towards a solution, while Joff Oddie, guitarist with the Mercury Prize-nominated rock band Wolf Alice, urged the government to listen on an issue that could make or break the UK music industry.

The Society of Musicians has warned how artists are professionally paralysed with many tours unviable telling a parliamentary inquiry: We fear our industry is in grave jeopardy because of Brexit.

Its survey revealed an alarming picture where just 43 per cent of touring musicians plan to visit the EU in future and 42 per cent would consider quitting the UK in order to pursue their careers.

Mr Johnson made a high-profile pledge to fix the crisis, but the minister put in charge of that David Frost, the Brexit minister appeared to wash his hands of the controversy and refused to say it would be resolved.

Ministers were then condemned, including by Elton John, for wrongly claiming 19 of the 27 EU countries are offering visa and work permit-free access when severe restrictions still exist.

On Friday, Elton John said he is on the warpath over the failure to end the crisis, accusing the prime minister of snubbing his request for a meeting.

Now Ms McGovern has revealed Labours plans to end the stalemate by opening its own negotiations with the European Commission and other organisations in the EU, including trade unions.

She told The Independent: What we know from creative people whether they work in theatre production, opera, or are gigging bands is that what the Tories agreed is not sufficient.

Poisonous red tape is holding back creative people from working across Europe and going on tour. This is one of our finest British exports and thats why weve got to do more.

Everybody is fed up now of waiting for the Tories to figure this out. They havent negotiated anything new and thats why we want to see a new, additional agreement.

Poisonous red tape is holding back creative people from working across Europe and going on tour. This is one of our finest British exports and thats why weve got to do more

Alison McGovern, Labour shadow culture minister

The deal would cover all the key problems encountered by touring artists, an EU-wide visa-waiver programme, work permit exemptions, a deal on cabotage for vehicles and carnets for transporting instruments.

Ms McGovern, shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman, and Jo Stevens, the shadow culture secretary, plan to visit the commission this autumn following the precedent of talks with opposition politicians during the Brexit crisis.

Labour stresses that the initiative is not about unpicking the Christmas trade and co-operation agreement (TCA), but securing an addition to it.

The EU has always stressed it was the UK that walked away from the talks on a mobility chapter and that the proposal has never been withdrawn.

Melua hailed Labours announcement, stressing the red tape now involved in touring, telling The Independent: Its good to see steps being made towards a solution.

We rely on touring so much, I just did two shows in Germany with my band and the paperwork we needed for our guitars seemed like overkill even to the customs guard.

Oddie said: This is an issue that could make or break the UK music industrys position and reputation.

We rely on touring so much, I just did two shows in Germany with my band and the paperwork we needed for our guitars seemed like overkill even to the customs guard

Katie Melua

As it stands, and without further intervention, EU touring will be unviable for all but the most established artists and well see a reduction on new talent breaking through. The government should consider the calls from Labour very carefully, stop paying lip service to the industry and start to take a proactive approach in engaging with the EU on this topic.

Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, said: We welcome Labours support for a visa-waiver agreement, which would be a big step forward in enabling artists to tour in Europe with ease once more.

And Horace Trubridge, general secretary of the Musicians Union, said: Very little has happened to cure the problems caused by the TCA. With Labours help, we are much more optimistic that a breakthrough might be possible.

The crisis delivered by what one senior Tory MP called a no-deal Brexit for touring artists has triggered huge protests demanding a government rethink.

The #LetTheMusicMove campaign is backed by Radiohead, New Order, Wolf Alice, The Chemical Brothers, Annie Lennox, Biffy Clyro, Anna Calvi, Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and members of Blur and Portishead, among many others.

The Carry on Touring petition secured almost 300,000 signatures triggering a Commons debate and the campaign sent an open letter to ministers, demanding a retraction of the claim that performers can tour easily in 19 countries.

It points out that far from offering 90 days of permit-free touring as suggested, many offer very few days and that the UK has secured no improvements through its talks with national capitals.

But in the Commons last week, the government again ruled out a rethink, insisting it is up to the EU to agree to an original UK proposal that Brussels said was far more unlimited and unworkable.

We will continue our intensive negotiations [with nation states], but we have to accept that this is not in our control, claimed Julia Lopez, a junior culture minister.

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Labour to open EU talks on new agreement to end post-Brexit crisis forcing musicians to abandon tours - The Independent

Australia scrapped a submarine order with Paris in favour of a deal with Washington and London last week. The move ignited fury of the French with Emmanuel Macron first recalling the country's ambassadors to the US and Australia and then cancelling a meeting between Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly and her British counterpart planned for this week.

The French were particularly angry at US President Joe Biden and Australian leader Scott Morrison for what they described as a "stab in the back".

But, when addressing Britain's role in the newly forged alliance, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was not surprised by the UK's "permanent opportunism".

He also branded Boris Johnson the "fifth wheel" in the diplomatic row, clarifying that he meant the UK Prime Minister is a "spare wheel".

France's Europe Minister Clement Beaune also suggested the UK was the "junior partner" which had accepted its "vassalisation" by the US.

French daily Le Figaro said the spat is the equivalent of an "Indo-Pacific Trafalgar" in an article headed 'Submarines: Biden torpedoes the Contract of the Century between France and Australia'.

The comments are likely to further exacerbate relations between France and the UK, already strained by Mr Macron's hard stance in the Brexit negotiations.

The pact between the UK, US and Australia has been widely seen as an attempt to counter the growing military assertiveness of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing swiftly denounced the initiative as "extremely irresponsible" and a threat to regional peace and stability.

READ MORE:France dismiss Brexit Britain's role in AUKUS alliance

Mr Johnson also urged Emmanuel Macron not to "worry" about the new military alliance.

Mr Johnson insisted Britain and France have a "very friendly relationship", which he described as being of "huge importance".

He added: "AUKUS is not in any way meant to be zero-sum, it's not meant to be exclusionary. It's not something that anybody needs to worry about and particularly not our French friends."

New Foreign Secretary Liz Truss touched down in New York alongside Mr Johnson as they both prepare to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington on Tuesday.

She launched a defence of the agreement, widely seen as a counter to increasing Chinese military assertiveness in the region, in an article for the Sunday Telegraph.

Ms Truss said Britain would always be a "fierce champion" of freedom and free enterprise around the world.

"It shows our readiness to be hard-headed in defending our interests and challenging unfair practices and malign acts," she added

She will also attend the UN summit, where she will come into contact with the French, though the extent of any conversations was unclear.

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The new Trafalgar! French sub row intensifies as UK branded 'fifth wheel' in brutal swipe - Daily Express

More than 60% of EU citizens stopped and questioned at ports by British border officials post-Brexit are from Romania, figures have shown, raising questions from lawyers about possible racial profiling.

Data issued by the government shows that in the first six months of the year 7,249 people were stopped either at airports, ferry ports or on Eurotunnel and Eurostar vehicle and train services.

The figures represent a fivefold increase on the same period in 2020 when free movement between EU member states remained in place for all who were legitimately seeking work in another country.

The stoppages are broken into two categories: those at airports, including Gatwick and Heathrow, those at UK ports including the likes of Portsmouth, Dover, Harwich and Holyhead, and what are known as juxtaposed controls conducted on French sites where British officials operate, including Gare du Nord for Eurostar, Coquelles for Eurotunnel and the ferry ports of Calais and Dunkirk.

Of those stopped in the first six months of 2021, 4,482 were from Romania, dwarfing the figures for neighbouring Bulgaria, from which 600 nationals were stopped, and the 400 questioned from Poland.

Nationals from northern European countries were barely hit by the new immigration controls, with just five Danish people stopped, 59 from Belgium and 144 from France challenged by border officials.

The law firm Bates Wells, which analysed the figures, said while the data could reflect disproportionately higher numbers of Romanians trying to enter the country after free movement had ended, they raised questions about possible racial profiling at the border.

Its legitimate to make general checks with a view to controlling illegal immigration but these latest figures beg the question of where there is an underlying agenda.

These types of stops can be traumatising, and there is a risk immigration officers may be targeting innocent people. Racial profiling is discriminatory and it needs to be nipped in the bud if its happening, said Chetal Patel, an immigration lawyer and partner at Bates Wells.

The government denied any race bias at the border. The claim that we have been racially profiling is false and unwarranted, said a Home Office spokesperson.

If someone arrives at our border, intending to work here without the right to do so, the public rightly expects us to prevent them from entering regardless of their nationality. These rules are applied fairly and solely on the basis of the individuals circumstances.

They added that the data refers to a time of restrictive Covid-19 measures, which meant all non-resident arrivals faced greater scrutiny on their arrival to protect against imported coronavirus cases.

The data, released on Gov.uk, does not offer a breakdown of the nationalities returning or coming to the UK for the first time in 2021.

Explanatory notes say not all individuals will have been detained in a holding room and some of those refused will subsequently be granted entry to the UK, others granted entry with immigration bail conditions, while others will be refused entry.

One explanation could be lack of awareness or confusion over the change in the rules on 1 January. Another possible reason for the high numbers of Romanians being stopped could be people who had settled or pre-settled status to remain in the UK returning after Christmas, Easter or lockdown absences.

As of 30 June, Home Office data shows Romanians were the second-largest category of applicants with 1.067 million from the country. Although 1.09 million Polish nationals applied for the settlement scheme, the data shows much lower stop figures.

While visas are not necessary for visits up to 180 days, or for those who were already living in the country with pre-settled or settled status, border officials were accused of being heavy-handed earlier this year after it emerged they were detaining EU citizens making short trips to visit friends, family or partners.

The Guardian reported in May that EU citizens were being sent to immigration removal centres and held in airport detention rooms.

There is clearly work to do in educating people on what to expect, so that they wont be caught out, said Patel.

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Over 60% of EU citizens stopped at ports by UK post-Brexit are Romanian - The Guardian