Is Britain Gripped In A Siege Like Situation?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/581749/Uk-food-shortages-predicted-drivers-refuse-ship-goods-violent-Calais-asylum-seekers

[-Talbot-]

Sounds like scaremongering, how would the drivers earn a living?

It would however highlight the UK's lack of self-sufficiency (which needs addressing sharpish)

[Old_Geezer]

Is it possible to turn back the clock to the days of national self-sufficiency ? I would hope so but with such a crowded nation I'm nor sure it can easily be done. Especially without ruining the ecology.

[Old_Geezer]

NOT sure >:-(

[New Judge]

It's not scaremongering by any means.

Many haulage firms have already stopped using Calais because of the problems there and have diverted their business to Rotterdam, Le Havre, Cherbourg and a few other ports. The problem is that around 5,000 lorries a day use Calais and finding alternative routes for all of them would be extremely problematic.

I have been saying for many months that mainland Europe is under invasion from foreign migrants and although they don't have guns and tanks the effect they have will be every bit as profound. We'll see if I'm right, but reports such as this (whilst they may be sensational but contain more than a grain of truth) seem to be confirming my concerns.

[naomi24]

This is unnecessarily alarmist. I read something about it a day or two back and understand that carriers intend to use other ports. They’re in business – they’ll carry on working, albeit by a different route.

[Haggisdj]

If the lorry drivers are starting to use other ports will the migrants not just camping there as well?

[anotheoldgit]

And if the haulage firms use other ports won't that put up the price of goods?

[naomi24]

Probably.

[naomi24]

^ That was to Haggisdj.

[retrocop]

aog
This OP should be linked to your other thread on MP's pay.
I appreciate the Tory Government were re elected only a few weeks ago but they mustn't forget the mandates that got them back. If they want a pay rise they better get cracking and get this referendum under way. Scrap the HRA and scrap benefits to free loading immigrants. We must make this small Island unattractive to immigrants who have no skills to be of use.
We only have to read about the Med boat people.When interviewed they are not just happy and relieved to survive the journey and get their feet on any dry land .No. They want to plant their feet on our land.The lady Mayor of Calais has always said we create Calais's problems and ultimately our own by our generosity with benefits. I believe she is right. Lets get our MP's earning their pay and do what we expect of them.

[anotheoldgit]

retrocop

If only, if only.

[New Judge]

"... they’ll carry on working, albeit by a different route. "

Yes of course they will, naomi. But they should not have to. Calais is the principle port from the Continent to southern England and as I said, some 5,000 lorries a day use it. It is not alarmist to suggest that should the port become severely disrupted (as it has been on a few occasions in the past months) that chaos will descend onto both the UK and France. (Just see what happens when French fishermen blockade the port for a day).

I have not been to Calais since last summer (and have no plans to go there in the near future, more's the pity). The last time I was there (and I'm sure it's now much worse) the area surrounding the port was like a war zone. There were illegals hanging about on every corner and roundabout, I saw a group of about thirty of them attempt to storm the main entrance, many areas on the outskirts of the town were a disgrace.

Many hauliers are now boycotting the port (and there are plenty of reports - not only in the Daily Mail - providing details). This is bound to cause unnecessary strain on the country's logistics. Huge amounts of goods arrive (and, don't forget, depart) on the Calais-Dover route.

It's no use saying "we should be more self-sufficient". We're not and one of the reasons we are not is because the European Dream has led us to believe we are all one big happy family and can borrow a cup of sugar from next door whenever we run out. That's not much good if aliens are blocking the neighbours' doorstep.

[Hopkirk]

Bear in mind this was in the Daily Express.

They do love to hype a good scare story about the calamitous end of our way of life.

[Baldric]

Should we not also be looking to France to do their part in securing their streets and their Port, surely they must realise there will be a large decrease in income for them if Calais becomes a No-Go area as far as Freight most likely a lot of Tourist Traffic is concerned, and goes elsewhere.

[Hopkirk]

I don't suppose the French give a toss about it.

[Baldric]

A more reliable source for you Hopkirk

http://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Forwarders-avoid-Calais-crossing-as-migrant-threat-grows/62929.htm#.VW7sr8vbLF8

[Hopkirk]

Baldric, that link gives a totally different slant to the Express's scaremongering. I see nothing about UK food shortages there.

[angler57]

The problem of food supply is compounded by the requirement to build houses for incoming people on land that was formerly used for food production, grazing animals etc. if our links to continental Europe are disrupted will we be exhorted to "dig for victory" as in times gone by using public parks and gardens to grow food for the residents of our already crowded island

[dave50]

It's time for the French and the British to come down hard on these people, they need to be dispersed once and for all by whatever means necessary. Stop pussyfooting around and if that means armed police or the armed forces then so be it. We need to make them frightened to even try to get to the UK.

[naomi24]

NJ, we know they shouldn't have to - but they will, and we will survive.