Chris Grayling’s calamitous attempt to arrange extra ferries to mitigate the impact of a no-deal Brexit cost taxpayers £85m, the Government’s spending watchdog has found.
The Department for Transport “rushed” a process to award ferry contracts, which “resulted in it taking excessive risks”, the Public Accounts Committee also concluded.
Such failings cost the taxpayer an extra £33m on top of more than £50m to cancel Brexit ferry contracts on May 1, it was found.
Mr Grayling, the Transport Secretary, has faced intense criticism for his department’s handling of Brexit contingency planning in the run-up to Britain’s original March 31 date for leaving the EU.
Ferry operators were contracted to ease “severe congestion” at Dover expected in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Seaborne Freight, an operator that it later emerged had never run a ferry service, was given a contract worth £13.8m.
The Department for Transport was subject to further ridicule after terms and conditions published on Seaborne’s website appeared to be intended for a pizza delivery firm.
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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/07/10/chris-graylings-no-deal-brexit-ferry-debacle-cost-taxpayers/