UK Poised for Post-Brexit U-Turn to Allow Foreign Lorry Drivers Amid Worsening Fuel Crisis

Strategic Insights -

The UK government is set to agree a short-term visa scheme permitting thousands of foreign lorry drivers to come to the country to stave off shortages threatening fuel and food supplies. The move is a direct response to the worsening fuel crisis, which has seen chaotic queues at petrol stations and warnings from suppliers that the shortage of fuel on forecourts could worsen. Boris Johnson has ordered a rapid fix, and ministers met on Friday to agree on the visa scheme, which is expected to be signed off over the weekend.

Key Takeaways:

  • The shortage of up to 100,000 HGV drivers has impacted the food sector, fuel industry, and other sectors, causing widespread disruption.
  • The British Retail Consortium warned that significant disruption to Christmas was "inevitable" unless the problem is contained in the next 10 days.
  • The proposal to allow foreign lorry drivers to come to the UK on short-term visas could permit thousands of drivers to enter the country, addressing the severe labour shortage.
  • The plan marks a significant climbdown for the government, which has publicly played down the extent of the problem and was previously opposed to relaxing immigration rules.
  • Other sectors, such as hospitality, are likely to put pressure on ministers to grant them exemptions from labour shortages.
  • The Home Office had been opposed to adding HGV drivers to the formal "occupation shortage list" but is thought to have been convinced to back a more short-term visa scheme.
  • Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has pledged to "move heaven and earth" to solve the problem, and all options are on the table.
  • Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, believes the problem should be solved by the haulage and fuel companies offering higher wages and better working conditions instead of allowing entry to workers who may accept lower pay.
  • The visa scheme was pushed by George Eustice, the environment secretary, and Stephen Barclay, the Cabinet Office minister.

Statistics:

  • Up to 100,000 HGV drivers are lacking in the UK, exacerbating labour shortages across various sectors.
  • One in six people have already reported difficulty finding "essential" items, according to the Office of National Statistics.
  • Suppliers have warned that if steps are not urgently taken to address the shortage of HGV drivers, the fuel crisis could worsen.

Sources:

  • Rowena Mason and Rob Davies, "Ministers Poised to Agree Post-Brexit U-Turn on Lorry Drivers Amid Worsening Fuel Crisis," The Guardian, 27 November 2021.
  • BBC News, "UK Government Faces U-Turn on Lorry Driver Shortage," BBC News, 27 November 2021.
  • Office of National Statistics, "Empty Supermarket Shelves and Difficulty Finding Essential Items," ONS, 27 November 2021.
  • British Retail Consortium, "Christmas Warning: Significant Disruption to Food Supplies Inevitable," BRC, 27 November 2021.