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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Michael Gove says º£½ÇÊÓÆµ ports 'geared up' for Brexit and denies Irish trade will bypass Britain

The Cabinet minister in charge of no-deal planning came to Holyhead today to meet port operators

Alex Loven and David Lea-Wilson answer three Brexit questions

Cabinet minister Michael Gove says ports are "geared up" for Brexit and should avoid any significant delays and congestion.

Mr Gove, the minister in charge of preparation for no-deal, was visiting Holyhead - the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ's second busiest port - to meet ferry operators and hauliers.

He believes the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ can avoid any major problems at ports despite the warning of days-long delays in the leaked no-deal Brexit dossier - saying there will no major increase in checks on this side of what will become the new border with the EU.

Mr Gove also played down fears about Irish shipping increasing its services direct to continental Europe - saying he believes an "overwhelming majority" of operators would continue to use the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ as a landbridge.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove during his visit to Holyhead port to discuss Brexit preparations. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo Peter Byrne/PA Wire(Image: PA)

 

His visit comes as Boris Johnson meets German chancellor Angela Merkel to press for change to the withdrawal agreement with the EU, with Mr Gove saying he still believed a deal could be done.

He also reiterated that predictions of a three-month no-deal Brexit “meltdown” at ports revealed in the leaked Operation Yellowhammer documents, were “the absolute worst case” and that the predictions were out of date.

On Holyhead he said: "The ferry companies, those who operate at Holyhead port, are geared up for the autumn.

"I’m confident that, if we all do the right thing, on October 31 we will be able to ensure that goods can flow in and out of ports like Holyhead without any significant delay."