Cars queue to enter the Port of Dover in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Jacob Rees-Mogg has said Britons should travel to Portugal instead if France in order to avoid the severe traffic disruption at Dover.
Speaking ahead of another weekend of travel disruption, the minister for Brexit opportunities said the UK’s exit from the EU had nothing to do with the long tailbacks at the Kent port.
Instead, Mr Rees-Mogg claimed the French government has not adequately manned the passport booths in order to reduce the disruption.
He said: "If the French decide not to provide the immigration officers that are needed, then there will be queues. But this was a decision of the French.”
The minister also praised Portugal for allowing British tourists to use e-gates to enter the country, adding: “I mean, it’s worth noting that the Portuguese have allowed the British to use e-gates to get into Portugal.
“So it may be that people will find it’s easier to go on holiday in Portugal."
This comes as the AA has issued an amber traffic warning for heavy congestion due to a combination of the school summer holidays in England and Wales, a rail strike, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and the start of the football season.
The Dover port expects to welcome around 140,000 passengers, 45,000 cars and 18,000 freight vehicles between Thursday and Sunday.
Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said on Thursday that French border controls will be "fully resourced", which will make a "fundamental difference".
Although there were some staff shortages previously, Mr Bannister claimed that Brexit is a major factor in the delays due to the need for passports to be checked and stamped.
French MP Pierre-Henri Dumont also added: “Two years ago the Tory British government decided not to give money to the Port of Dover to increase the number of kiosks there for French police.
"Because of Brexit we need to have more checks on passports, so this is what your future will look like for years to come if you take no action."
