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The Telegraph
France ‘could have helped UK address new strain of Covid if not for Brexit’
The French government could have “helped” Britain tackle the new infectious strain of the coronavirus if it weren’t for Brexit, the French EU commissioner said as the country demanded testing from truck drivers to lift its transport ban. goods. When asked about the new outbreak, Thierry Breton said: “What is happening in Britain is a tragedy, and this Brexit is a tragedy; we see it more and more every day.” If Britain “had chosen to remain in the European Union … today we could have helped them,” Breton told BFM Business. His comments are likely to fuel anger in Britain after France banned freight and flights until at least midnight Tuesday, a move Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, described as surprising. Natalie Elphicke, a Conservative MP from Dover, said: “The French government’s decision to close the border without warning was unnecessary, futile and irresponsible. It has caused severe traffic congestion at a time when traffic flows were already high, with Christmas and more – support causing congestion in several ports before the end of the transition period. “The longer it goes on, the longer it will take to relax, which means there could be queues after Christmas unless the French reopen the border. “
