Priti Patel squirms in grilling on ‘grim situation’ UK lorries face as ‘thousands’ stuck

Priti Patel grilled over ‘grim situation’ on the M20 by reporter

The Home Secretary was asked to clarify how many lorries had been affected by the blockage on the M20 after figures of close to 1000 emerged overnight. Ms Patel confirmed the official figure was approximately 900 lorries but the BBC’s Jon Kay pointed out that hundreds of more lorries had not been included in those statistics. 

Mr Kay said: “You have mentioned the number of lorries, but can we clear this up because I think people will be a bit surprised this morning.

“Your colleague Grant Shapps the Transport Secretary said in Downing Street last night that there were 170 lorries stuck on the M20, we then discovered overnight it is closer to a thousand.

“Why that discrepancy, why is there that difference?”

Ms Patel told BBC Breakfast: “First of all, the number of lorries continues to fluctuate so the numbers will be different from when Grant spoke yesterday to this morning.

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“The numbers do fluctuate, and I think Highways England has actually confirmed overnight that the numbers were approximately 900 but those numbers change all the time.”

The BBC host replied: “Those are the official counted numbers but there are also hundreds more just parked up wherever they can just waiting to be able to get moving.

“It is a pretty grim situation isn’t it?

“The French are talking about getting a testing regime in place, how quickly could you get that in place?”

During an interview with Sky News, the Home Secretary was quizzed by Niall Paterson on the possibility of extending the transition period past the December 31 2020 deadline.

Mr Paterson said: “It has been pretty definitively ruled out but it is always useful to hear from someone as senior as yourself.

“Are there any plans or temptation to seek some form of extension to that Brexit transition?”

Ms Patel replied: “No there is not.”