The UK seems to heading into a period of relative chaos at the moment, a combination of COVID, Brexit and government policy      
has led to a shortage of drivers and queues at petrol stations and empty shelves. This has been predicted for a while but the government seems totally unprepared and out its depth.
Johnson is a laughing stock, they are calling him the new Berlesconi here in Athens, corruption and bribery is so widespread it seems no one is embarrassed by it any more.
I can see a mate of Johnson or a party donor being given a massive to contract to get a load of drivers over here and make a killing from this situation but perhaps I am just being cynical after the Covid contracts

Probably the worst person we could have had in charge during a massive period of change and upheaval.

The man is a clown but will probably come out of this smelling of roses. He usually does, having lied and blustered his way to the top.

Would have been worse under Corbyn though.  ;)

Quoted from ginnywings

Would have been worse under Corbyn though.  ;)

Would have been like Venezuela etc etc.

Neither party can put up a credible candidate for PM so we are left with extremists or buffoons. The country's in a mess and has been for decades served by inept politicians who filled the pockets of their mates or their own egos.

When do the right start blaming Marxists?

Quoted from aldi_01

When do the right start blaming Marxists?

Probably in the next post.

Completely believable to think that, had Corbyn been presiding over fuel shortages, collapsing energy firms, massive government corruption, 150k dead from Covid and more, that the government would’ve been overthrown in a coup cheered on by the right wing press and liberal commentariat.

I'm sure Ron Chatterley's Tory Fan Club Lover or Humbercod will be along soon to explain how well the Tory's are doing :)

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/C7BA/production/_120703115_express-nc.png

There is no shortage of qualified HGV drivers. There estimated to be over 300,000 of working age, presently doing something else.

There is a shortage of qualified HGV drivers prepared to work for the pay and conditions in offer in some roles.

Amazon, for instance, aren't short of HGV drivers for their trunking operations, but then they are offering good wages, sign on and retention bonuses, and a modern fleet.

The industry was warned as far back as 2018 that it needed to improve things, but has apparently dine too little. In its defense, the same shortages are common world wide; even Italy, whose economy isn't exactly booming, has a shortage of over 20k drivers, as do some states in the US.

One of the things we are seeing at work is that drivers, as well as being poached, are finding they can earn similar wages in jobs that don't require nights away from family and home. Only better wages and conditions can solve this.

The fuel thing is infuriating. There was absolutely no fuel shortage in the UK, and until the panic set it, no problem getting it to stations. I am reluctant to sound like a mouthpiece for this government of clowns, but this was manufactured by the RHA. Only BP were struggling, and by struggling they meant that a few if their stations were missing the odds grade of fuel temporarily. No other company had issues, and as a total of the entirety of the petrol retail landscape, it would have been unnoticed. But someone, I e. The RHA briefed ITN who ran with a scare story and caused panic. If you want to see why BP had issues, take a look at Hoyers reviews on employment sites. They have a terrible reputation among drivey, with people nick naming them 'Hand Over Your Employment Rights'

The above is not what the Road Haulage Association are saying -

https://www.rha.uk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ICI0C-FWmVo%3D&portalid=0&timestamp=1627564639720#:~:text=From%20the%20perspective%20of%20SMEs,the%20current%20driver%20shortage%20crisis.

It has to be put into context that the RHA are an employer's association; they will as always push for measures to push down wage costs, just as employees association's, such as unions, will always try and push wages up.

You notice that the linked report doesn't really explain where all these missing drivers have gone; if they have all returned home, why are their driver shortages within the single market?

The reality is many of them have gone into other types of employment.

Quoted from Bogtrotter

It has to be put into context that the RHA are an employer's association; they will as always push for measures to push down wage costs, just as employees association's, such as unions, will always try and push wages up.

You notice that the linked report doesn't really explain where all these missing drivers have gone; if they have all returned home, why are their driver shortages within the single market?

The reality is many of them have gone into other types of employment.

If it isn't because 'they' have all gone home (or at least a major factor) why are the government offering 5000 temporary visas for foreign drivers?

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

If it isn't because 'they' have all gone home (or at least a major factor) why are the government offering 5000 temporary visas for foreign drivers?

Articulated beautifully

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

If it isn't because 'they' have all gone home (or at least a major factor) why are the government offering 5000 temporary visas for foreign drivers?

Did you hear the Dutch Union dude on the wireless yesterday? Essentially said, why on earth would drivers who were hardly welcomed previously want to come and sort out the UKs excrement…he’s got a point…

I assume they are hoping because of the offer of higher wages

I still think the visa thing is a political move to make this lot look like they are doing something. I doubt any EU country has a surplus of unemployed HGV + ADR drivers sitting around looking for work, given the global driver shortage. If you can command decent wages nearer to your family and friends, why would you uproot yourselves?

Quoted from Bogtrotter

I assume they are hoping because of the offer of higher wages

I still think the visa thing is a political move to make this lot look like they are doing something. I doubt any EU country has a surplus of unemployed HGV + ADR drivers sitting around looking for work, given the global driver shortage. If you can command decent wages nearer to your family and friends, why would you uproot yourselves?

Of course it is. 5000 for 3 months. Too few to touch the sides and too short a period of time to attract anyone.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Of course it is. 5000 for 3 months. Too few to touch the sides and too short a period of time to attract anyone.

A small piece of sticky plaster for an extremely large hole. Too little too late, we need a better solution.

Quoted from DB

A small piece of sticky plaster for an extremely large hole. Too little too late, we need a better solution.

We need better politicians.

Quoted from ginnywings

We need better politicians.

And there lies the big problem. We don't have any anymore. Career politicians by the bucket load whose first lesson is how to leak stories to the press, the second lesson "It wasn't me".

The main shortage in this country at the minute is the shortage of common sense.  :)