These are among the stark warnings from a Government ‘Operation Yellowhammer’ document, which details the ‘reasonable worst case’ assumptions of exiting the European Union without agreement on 31 October.

Disruption to flow across the Channel may delay lorries by up to two and a half days before they can cross into France, it adds, and up to 85% of heavy goods vehicles ‘may not be ready for French customs’ on the first day following a no deal.

A lack of trader readiness combined with limited space in French ports could reduce the flow rate of lorries to between 40 and 60% of current levels within one day as ‘unready HGVs will fill the ports and block flow’. The worst of the disruption to Channel crossings might last three months before the situation improves, the document claims.

Disruption to local fuel supplies could be exacerbated by traffic queues blocking the Dartford Crossing in Kent, with a chance that ‘customer behaviour' could lead to local shortages in other parts of the country.

Passenger delays could be expected at St Pancras International, the Channel Tunnel and Dover due to increased immigration checks, and ‘it is likely that delays will occur for UK arrivals and departures at EU airports and ports’, which could cause ‘some disruption on transport services’.
The Road Haulage Association says that the Yellowhammer document confirms its worst fears about the impact a no deal Brexit will have on the supply chain.

“This is what we’ve been talking about for the last three years,” remarked its chief executive Richard Burnett. “Government needs to throw all its weight into minimising the impact leaving the EU without a deal will have on the economy.”