Maybe we just need Father Christmas – he can get round the whole World in one night.
This is an old post – written in 2021 but much still happening but for different reasons. Am sorry use probably a lot because who knows what is really happening behind the scenes.
Even in a small country like the UK – every Government has a challenge to provide answers that everyone in this (sort of) United Kingdom feels works for them. Personally didn’t want Brexit to happen – especially not the way it did but we live in a Democracy and without proportional representation. Maybe there should be another referendum, about proportional representation – how we vote?
Listened to a discussion that all countries across Europe are suffering shortage of HGV drivers but only the UK have food and petrol shortages in the petrol stations and empty shelves in the shops. This is not happening elsewhere probably because of free movement of people across borders. When we have driven in Europe, from Belgium onwards. Germany especially – the relentless stream of lorries make driving a little hairy. Not as noticeable in France. In the UK before Brexit – we looked for the number plates to see all the different nationalities on the roads. Not so much anymore.
What is the answer because of shortages and the environment.
Strange thing – the countries that make up Europe, all have strong farming and industrial industries. If we are worried about the environment – why do we import so much? Why don’t we seize this opportunity to make more of what we have got and also use sea freight more for less perishable things? Probably this will mean – tweaking planning and way the supply chain works, less taxes and more incentives for home grown, home made industries and farming.
Maybe the Brexit deal needs to be revisited.
Government representative seemed to put it down to low pay, poor conditions regarding HGV drivers and the need to abolish exams for certification for seasoned veteran drivers who left the trade because of this. Women are put off by heaving conditions for washing especially and because of balancing family life. Young drivers are not tempted to drive HGV lorries because of low pay and poor conditions.
More than enough people in the UK have HGV licenses to solve the current crises without need to call in the army. The answer is probably fair pay and good conditions to reflect this necessary but hard job.
The answer probably is not about firefighting. Impressive to react to a crises and be adaptable but better planning would make this chaos at a difficult time, unnecessary.
