New apprentice

There has always been some shortage in the labour market for HGV drivers and that's how any market works.

However that shortage exploded after Brexit. The current UK shortfall is estimated at 100,000 drivers.

Not only transport workers have been badly affected by Brexit labour shortages but hospitality, manufacturing, construction and the NHS too.

EU workers in their home countries are available to do these jobs for us but Brexit keeps them away.

You claimed Brits would be rushing after Brexit to do jobs foreigners had been doing. Where are they?

There is a shortage of HGV drivers right throughout the EU.

Nothing to do with brexit.

Some of the big store chiefs have suggested relaxing immigration provisions, so as to allow in more truck drivers from the EU, but that isn't going to work if there is an EU-wide shortage. I wonder why they suggested it then?

And the government are considering allowing an increase in the length of articulated trailers. That's going to be fun in my village where the two intersecting A roads are connected via a pair of mini roundabouts with restricted vision and conservation-area properties lining both sides so limited option to 'drive up on the pavement'.

House prices are booming though. Happiness all round.

Because EU drivers will work for less.

sitting at home with their feet up.

They've already allowed an increase in driver tacho hours.

Sadly, we ought to have replaced the vinyl in our kitchen by now. It's been down nearly 25 years, and it's had a lot of traffic. There are loads of small cuts in the top surface, and scrubbing it doesn't make much difference. Thanks so much for the reminder to get a new floor. You have spurred me on!

The kid won't come to any harm from walking on a dirty floor, but it's most unlike you to show such concern. Why the sudden change of heart?

:)

My driving licence allows me to drive 7.5 tonne goods vehicles, plus a large trailer. (Categories C1 and C1E.) I imagine that's the case for many people on this NG.

Should we all be starting new careers driving small trucks?

There are no empty shelves in EU supermarkets. It's Brexit.

Bullshit

I thought "Alex" was saying some very weird things until Peeler kindly pointed out Alex is actually Rod Speed.

I should have guessed.

Er, not happiness for Fredxx as he's expecting houses to become far more affordable after Brexit.

Parental obsessiveness with cleanliness early in a child's life is thought by some to contribute to childhood allergies. Minor infections help infants build up a robust immune system.

Presumably they are as ignorant as Pamela and don?t realise that the EU has the same problem. also due to the virus there

That is not unique to the UK. What is unique to the UK is that EU citizen drivers who left the UK to be with their families after being put on furlough can't now easily return. They can, however, easily find work in another EU country. It is estimated that we are about 60,000 drivers short. Half that is put down to the stop on testing due to Covid. A further quarter is attributed to the loss of EU citizen drivers. The rest is simply because not enough people want to do it.