3rd March 2019
Travel insurers MPI Brokers have produced a newsletter outlining the effects on the travel industry and the travelling public if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
There are 26 days left until the scheduled leaving date, 29th March 2019, and the chaotic Conservative government led by Theresa May has botched negotiations, and left everyone in Europe in a position of uncertainty.
The main implications are:
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will no work for UK nationals in the EU
- UK ferry operators will have to provide passenger manifests to EU ports prior to arrival
- Coach operators will not longer be allowed to send their vehicles to the EU, and will have to sub-contract to European operators
- UK passport holders will no longer be able to use EEA/EU queues at European borders. We may need to pay for visas to travel to France and the rest of Europe
- UK drivers will have to apply for International Driving Permits, as British driving licences will no longer be valid in Europe
- Those with British car insurance will have to ask their insurers to provide a Green Card
- The Posted Workers Directive will no longer apply. British chalet tour operators would have to employ their staff under local (for example, French) terms and conditions; in reality, catered chalets would no longer viable
- Roaming charges for mobile phones may come back in
It's absolutely brilliant, isn't it? And this is all voluntary - this is what we want, apparently.
This is the most stupid and damaging episode in British politics in my lifetime. David Cameron was at the root of it, and Theresa May is responsible for the hardline attempted implementation, and subsequent incompetence. Either way, it is the nasty, shambolic Conservatives who are to blame, from start to finish.
