Brexit news – live: Boris Johnson warned six months of port ‘mayhem’ ahead in 2021, even if trade deal agreed

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(Reuters)

Boris Johnson’s government has been warned of “mayhem” at Holyhead port when the Brexit transition period ends, even if a UK-EU trade deal is struck.

The Irish Road Haulage Association said the first six months of 2021 would be “terrible” due to the lack of preparations.

It comes as Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that a no-deal Brexit would cause even more long-term damage to the UK’s economy than the coronavirus pandemic.

The influential figure told MPs a deal was in the “best interests of both sides”.

It follows an optimistic assessment of trade talks by Irish premier Micheál Martin, who revealed legal texts were now in play on all areas of the prospective trade deal.

“I would be hopeful that by the end of this week we could see the outline of a deal,” said Mr Martin.

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