Stranded lorry drivers scuffled with police on Wednesday after a deal was struck to allow traffic to move from the English port of Dover to mainland Europe.
Several thousand lorries were parked near the port when France imposed a 48-hour travel lockdown after a fast-spreading mutation of coronavirus took hold in southern England.
Angry drivers left their cabs in the morning, jeering and whistling at authorities, with many shouting "open the borders" and "we want to go home".
The ban on lorries moving to France was lifted on Wednesday. Hauliers will be tested for the virus before being allowed to board ferries or the cross-Channel rail service to the continent, where cases of the new mutation have been identified.
The stand-off began on Sunday night when French authorities shut the border with Britain as news of the highly-contagious Covid-19 variant emerged.
At least 55 counties around the world have since introduced travel bans on passengers from the UK in a bid to keep the mutation from spreading.
The European Commission on Tuesday advised against a blanket travel ban but said non-essential travel should be discouraged.
A British minister said "common sense has prevailed" on Tuesday after the European Commission advised EU member states not to restrict freight movements because of concerns over shortages and disruption to vaccine supplies.
Thousands of lorries, the majority from mainland Europe, were stuck for days on roads and parked at an airport because of the dispute. The government said the traffic jam will take days to clear and that it will bring in the army to help set up testing facilities at the airport.
“The scientific evidence suggested that HGV drivers were relatively unlikely to pass the virus,” Housing Minister Robert Jenrick said. “These were arguments we have made... common sense has prevailed.”
He said he hoped that the first lorries would start crossing to France on Wednesday morning.
Drivers grew increasingly angry as it became clear they may not get home for Christmas. Many were stranded in their vehicles without access to hot food or bathrooms.
"They don't give us food, they don't give us drinks, they don't give us sanitation, they don't offer us anything," one driver said. "The situation is basically inhumane, so what we are asking for is a solution."
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Police officers scuffle with drivers trying to stop trucks leaving the port and keep it closed until they are allowed to travel to Europe, at the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley -
Police officers drag a person lying down in front of a lorry at the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY -
epa08900880 Police stand at the entrance of the Port of Dover after freight lorries cannot cross by sea or through the Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover has closed to outbound traffic in Dover, Britain, 23 December 2020. France closed its border with the UK for 48 hours over concerns about the new coronavirus variant. Lorry drivers must now obtain negative coronavirus tests before they will be allowed to cross by sea and the Port of Dover remains closed to outbound traffic on the morning of 23 December 2020. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA -
epa08900874 Police stand at the entrance of the Port of Dover after freight lorries cannot cross by sea or through the Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover has closed to outbound traffic in Dover, Britain, 23 December 2020. France closed its border with the UK for 48 hours over concerns about the new coronavirus variant. Lorry drivers must now obtain negative coronavirus tests before they will be allowed to cross by sea and the Port of Dover remains closed to outbound traffic on the morning of 23 December 2020. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA -
DOVER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Police officers attend to a man at the Port of Dover on December 23, 2020 in Dover, United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 lorries were stranded around Kent after France banned all travel from the UK on Sunday, citing concerns over a new variant of covid-19. Late Tuesday, the countries reached a deal to restart freight travel for drivers with a recent negative covid-19 test. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) -
A person lies down in front of a lorry to stop it from leaving the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley -
Police officers scuffle with drivers trying to stop trucks leaving the port and keep it closed until they are allowed to travel to Europe, at the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley -
Police officers speak with truck drivers at the Port of Dover Ltd. in Dover, U.K. The European Commission called on member states to reopen critical trade and passenger transport links to the U.K. while discouraging non-essential travel, a step toward ending the chaos at Britain's busiest port. Bloomberg -
Drivers discuss by their vehicles in the road as they queue trying to enter the port of Dover in Kent, south east England, that is still cordoned after the UK and France agreed a protocol to reopen the border to accompanied freight arriving in France from the UK requiring all lorry drivers to show a negative Covid-19 test. France and Britain reopened cross-border travel after a snap 48-hour ban to curb the spread of a new coronavirus variant threatened UK supply chains. Accompanied frieght will now be allowed to cross the channel from the port of Dover but all lorry drivers will require a lateral flow test and a negative Covid-19 result before the travel. AFP -
A driver talks with a police officer at the entrance of the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley -
Drivers talk with police officers at the entrance of the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain. REUTERS -
Drivers and their vehicles trying to enter the port of Dover, in Kent, south east England, block the road access as they not allowed to enter after the UK and France agreed a protocol to reopen the border to accompanied freight arriving in France from the UK. France and Britain reopened cross-border travel after a snap 48-hour ban to curb the spread of a new coronavirus variant threatened UK supply chains. Accompanied frieght will now be allowed to cross the channel from the port of Dover but all lorry drivers will require a lateral flow test and a negative Covid-19 result before the travel. AFP -
Drivers block the road by the entrance to the Port in Dover, in Kent, south east England on December 23, 2020, as they await lateral flow COVID-19 tests to arrive, before being allowed to enter, following an agreement between the UK and France to reopen the border to accompanied freight arriving in France from the UK. France and Britain reopened cross-Channel travel on Wednesday after a 48-hour ban to curb the spread of a new coronavirus variant but London has warned it could take days for thousands of trucks blocked around the port of Dover to get moving. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS -
DOVER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Travellers to Europe wait at the Port of Dover on December 23, 2020 in Dover, United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 lorries were stranded around Kent after France banned all travel from the UK on Sunday, citing concerns over a new variant of covid-19. Late Tuesday, the countries reached a deal to restart freight travel for drivers with a recent negative covid-19 test. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) -
People wearing protective masks talk with a police officer at the entrance of the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain. REUTERS -
Police officers form a cordon at the entrance to the port in Dover, in Kent, south east England, after the UK and France agreed a protocol to reopen the border to accompanied freight arriving in France from the UK. France and Britain reopened cross-border travel after a snap 48-hour ban to curb the spread of a new coronavirus variant threatened UK supply chains. Accompanied frieght will now be allowed to cross the channel from the port of Dover but all lorry drivers will require a lateral flow test and a negative Covid-19 result before the travel. AFP -
Travellers to Europe are stopped by police officers at the Port of Dover in Dover, United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 lorries were stranded around Kent after France banned all travel from the UK on Sunday, citing concerns over a new variant of covid-19. Late Tuesday, the countries reached a deal to restart freight travel for drivers with a recent negative covid-19 test. Getty Images -
Truck drivers scuffle with police trying to hold them back at the entrance to the Port of Dover, in Kent, England. Freight from Britain and passengers with a negative virus test began arriving on French shores Wednesday, after France relaxed a two-day blockade over a new virus variant that had isolated Britain, stranded thousands of drivers and raised fears of shortages. AP -
Truck drivers discuss with police holding them back at the entrance to the Port of Dover, in Kent, England. Freight from Britain and passengers with a negative virus test began arriving on French shores Wednesday, after France relaxed a two-day blockade over a new virus variant that had isolated Britain, stranded thousands of drivers and raised fears of shortages. AP -
A woman and child stand in front of police officers at the Port of Dover on December 23, 2020 in Dover, United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 lorries were stranded around Kent after France banned all travel from the UK on Sunday, citing concerns over a new variant of covid-19. Late Tuesday, the countries reached a deal to restart freight travel for drivers with a recent negative covid-19 test. Getty Images -
A man speaks to a police officer at the Port of Dover on December 23, 2020 in Dover, United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 lorries were stranded around Kent after France banned all travel from the UK on Sunday, citing concerns over a new variant of covid-19. Late Tuesday, the countries reached a deal to restart freight travel for drivers with a recent negative covid-19 test. Getty Images -
A driver talks with a police officer next the exit of the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS -
Truck drivers argue with police holding them back at the entrance to the Port of Dover, in Kent, England,. Freight from Britain and passengers with a negative virus test began arriving on French shores Wednesday, after France relaxed a two-day blockade over a new virus variant that had isolated Britain, stranded thousands of drivers and raised fears of shortages. AP -
Truck drivers argue with police holding them back at the entrance to the Port of Dover, in Kent, England. Freight from Britain and passengers with a negative virus test began arriving on French shores Wednesday, after France relaxed a two-day blockade over a new virus variant that had isolated Britain, stranded thousands of drivers and raised fears of shortages. AP
Drivers will first take a lateral-flow Covid-19 test. Anyone with a positive result will take a more comprehensive PCR test, for which results take longer to process. Anyone testing positive again will be given a hotel room in which to isolate.
A mobile testing site was set up at Manston Airport, 29 kilometres from Dover. The International Road Transport Union said that even a 30-minute test would be "a disaster", with UK authorities having to test at least 6,000 drivers a day.
Kent Police confirmed that one person had been arrested following an incident at the Manston site.
European officials said the saga provided an insight into the trouble the UK is likely to face in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
A temporary arrangement preserving the free flow of goods between Britain and the 27-nation bloc will end on December 31 and negotiators are deadlocked on fishing rights and ensuring fair competition.
The government is bracing for a 7,000-lorry snarl-up in the event that no deal is reached. Guy Verhofstadt, a former Brexit co-ordinator for the European Parliament, said the past 48 hours hinted at chaos to come.
“We forgot what borders look like,” he tweeted. “They [the UK] will now start to understand what leaving the EU really means.”
Some British politicians have criticised Macron's move to close the ports, with some accusing him of performing a political stunt.
"I'm afraid this was an example of politics spilling into the hardship of managing this pandemic," British MP Tobias Ellwood told The National. "It is unfortunate that as negotiations reached a critical juncture, that this action should muddy the waters."
A food industry chief warned of further mayhem after the disruption outside Dover, which raised concerns of shortages of vegetables in UK shops.
“This kind of chaos and this kind of delay could easily be a presaging of what is to come,” Ian Wright, chief executive the Food and Drink Federation, told Bloomberg. “It’s lifting the curtain a little on the chaos that could happen if it all goes horribly wrong.”
The end of the travel ban is a plus for the UK government, which is expected to extend restrictions on the population because of the surge in Covid-19 cases, blamed in part on the virus mutation.
Much of the world shut its borders to Britain this week after the variant spread quickly. The government’s Covid operations committee is meeting on Wednesday to consider the latest data amid reports that Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city, could join London by imposing the most restrictive measures.
The new variant, which is said to be 70 per cent more infectious than previous strains, has already spread around Britain, with cases identified in Wales and Scotland.
Similar problems were reported in mainland Europe with Germany recording 962 Covid-related deaths, a new one-day record.
To curb the spread, the German government last week shut most shops, tightened rules on social contact and discouraged people from travelling to see relatives over Christmas.
