Dover officials reject Suella Braverman's claim that queues 'are not caused by Brexit'

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Port of Dover officials have hit back at claims by the Home Secretary that long queues at the port are not a result of Brexit.

A port spokesman said processing time for each passenger had increased since Britain left the European Union, and that had been a disruptive factor.

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Suella Braverman had earlier said Brexit was not to blame for several days of travel chaos in Dover - insisting that traffic jams would not be frequent at the border with France.

The Home Secretary has claimed it is 'unfair' to blame the post-Brexit passport checks for long queues, as Easter holidaymakers have reported waits of up to at 6pm at the Port of Kent.

But Doug Bannister, the port's chief executive, has previously said it was "absolutely true" that the queues at the port, seen for the first time last summer, are a consequence of the UK's exit from the EU. Since Brexit, every passport must now be scanned and stamped.

"In a post-Brexit environment, transaction times across borders are going to take longer," he said.

Additional crossings took place overnight from Saturday to Sunday from Dover to Calais in an attempt to clear up the huge backlog, which was partly blamed on bad weather affecting ferry crossings and an increase bookings higher than expected.

Experts said the inspection and stamping of individual passports after Brexit added to the disruption. Sunday: 'I don't think it's fair to say this is a negative effect of Brexit.'

The Tory Minister added: 'Many years have passed since we left the EU, and there have been, overall, very good border operations and processes."

Ms Braverman downplayed fears that the disturbances in Dover do not become frequent. Asked if it could happen every school holiday, she told the BBC: "No, not at all... I don't think that's the situation to go from forward."

Despite continuing problems with traffic congestion in Kent in 2021 and 2022, the Home Secretary said: "If you look at the last few years things have gotten better. went very well, working very well at the border."

She added, "It's a very busy time situation...