Responding to reports that Holyhead and Fishguard ports saw
a 30 per cent drop in traffic in 2021, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused
the Conservatives of “doing half a job” with the UK’s Brexit deal and stated
that failures in the agreement are continuing to risk Welsh jobs.
Ian Davies, the boss of Stena's UK ports has stated that he
thinks it is now clear the impact on Welsh ports is down to the new post-Brexit
trading relationship with the European Union rather than the pandemic.
At the start of January, new customs regulations came into
effect requiring greater checks on goods coming into the UK, with the industry
warning that even stricter checks due to come in over summer 2022 could prove
even more disruptive.
The extra red-tape has led to numerous hauliers deciding to
bypass the UK and Wales all-together, with direct ferry routes between France
and Ireland increasing from less than 12 in 2020, to 44 as of October 2021.
Welsh ports are thought to supply at least 1,000 jobs in
Holyhead, Ynys Môn and support around 4,000 in Pembrokeshire.
Commenting on the developments Welsh Liberal Democrat
Leader & Mid and West Wales Senedd Member Jane Dodds said:
“Yet again we are seeing more evidence that the
Conservatives are the party of doing half a job. There are now numerous serious
problems with the Brexit deal Boris Johnson negotiated, most of which they were
warned about before they signed the deal.
“Whether it’s the unacceptable levels of new red tape for
our hauliers and small businesses, the lack of an adequate veterinary agreement
for our farmers or the impact of lost development funds on our most deprived
regions, the Conservatives are failing to even attempt to address the problems
they have caused on multiple fronts.
“We urgently need the Conservatives to get a grip, take
some responsibility and clean up the mess they have made. People’s jobs and
livelihoods are depending on it, as is the wider Welsh economy which does not
need any unnecessary turmoil as we try to move into the post-pandemic era.”
Comments