Port of Dover: 'We must minimise the damage' says MP Mike Tapp ahead of new EU rules

The MP for Dover and Deal, Mike Tapp, says it's now about 'minimising the damage' of the new EU border checks.

Last week, Kent's council leaders came together, in a written letter, to highlight the work needed to stop the potential delays, which they predict could last for more than 12 hours.

Since, the governments has announced their plans to expand the French border control zone, at the Port of Dover, in a bid to reduce the expected que times.

Speaking to us, Mike Tapp, who is the Labour MP for the area, said: "This new Entry Exit System, which is going to require biometrics to be taken at the border, is going to slow everything down significantly.

"The Conservatives have had seven years to get on top of this and come up with a plan and mitigate but they've failed on that and have left us just a few months to come up with a solution.

"I'm worried that the digital solutions still aren't completed, this is where a tablet would be pass around the vehicles to take biometrics.

It's very complex, there's a lot of idea flying around and I have pitched a lot of these to various parties but for a few reasons they aren't viable. At this point it's about minimising damage, I sympathise, it's my problem because it's your problem.

"I'm working really hard on this, talking to relevant stakeholders to make sure we have a plan in place but do bare with us.

"We said we would make Brexit work, and we know this is a direct result of those agreements but there are talks with the EU about how we can make that border work better."