Before Brexit we were
NEVER stopped for any length of time by the French Border Control.
At least once a year over a period of
twenty-five years, we went to France either in a car/motorhome (often towing a caravan or trailer) or a motorbike:
- Dover > Calais
- Dover > Dunkerque
- Folkestone > Calais
- Portsmouth > Caen
- Portsmouth > Cherbourg
- Portsmouth > St Malo
- Poole > Cherbourg
The French Border Control made a cursory check of our Passports in some UK departures going to France, but never on the way back.
On the other hand, the UK Border Control checked the car, motorhome and caravan on almost all occasions whether going or returning.
(One UK “Jobs Worth” suggested that I dumped my Opinel knife on my way to France. I had a much bigger knife and a meat-cleaver in the kitchen drawers!)
It’s so easy to blame someone else, be they French, immigrants, Covid etc when the true blame lies a lot nearer to home!
It’s not as if Brexit has been a surprise; especially as Boris had an “Oven Ready Brexit” just raring to go.
Surely, someone told Boris and the UK Border Force that, after Brexit, EVERY Passport needs to be scrutinised and stamped by the receiving EU Country and that this will cause delays?
Let’s look on the bright side, we’ve got our Country back; blue Passports, Crown marks on our pint glasses etc.
(*)
:hat:
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BTW, neither of these were forbidden when we were members of the EU!